Best of Nollywood (BON), the organisers of the annual awards ceremony for the movie industry is set to tell the story of the initiative through a new book by its founder, Seun Oloketuyi.
Titled From Me To You: The Story Of BON Awards, the book will be unveiled on Monday September 7 at a two-in-one ceremony where a documentary on two pioneers of Nigeria celebrity journalism – Chief Dele Momodu (Bob Dee) and Mayor Akinpelu (Lord Mayor) – will be premiered.
Titled ‘Pathfinders’, the documentary, according to Oloketuyi, who is also the executive producer, is “first of its kind to focus on two of Nigeria’s media giants who have contributed immensely to the growth of celebrity reportage in Nigeria”.
The film, he says in a statement made available to TCN, chronicles the journalistic trajectory of the two pathfinders to whom many journalists owe their careers to today.
The two senior journalists clocked 60 thus year.
“The reality is that many celebrity reporters cannot tell their stories without mentioning Bob Dee or Mayor Akinpelu. They have been exceptional in their dedication to their craft, and that inspired this documentary,” he said.
Speaking on his maiden effort as an author, Oloketuyi revealed that just as the title suggests, ‘From Me To You, The Story Of BON Awards’ is the insider story on the birth and growth of this traveling award ceremony which has been hosted in about 10 states in Nigeria over the past decade.
“The foreword of the book was written by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State, who coincidentally was the first governor to host the awards ceremony.
“The book will be officially launched at the premiere of the documentary,” Oloketuyi added.
He further revealed that the premiere and unveiling would be for a small, selected few in tandem with the COVID-19 protocols, and the event, which would be strictly by invitation will follow all guidelines laid out by the government to flatten the curve and stop the spread of the virus.