Filmmaker Victor Okhai has been elected President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) in a poll held on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
In a landslide victory, Okhai polled 100 (66%) of the 151 total votes cast.
The incumbent Vice-President of the guild, McCollins Chidebe a.k.a China, who also contested polled 47 votes.
Other candidates – Yinka Akanbi and Kehinde Soaga – got 3 and 1 votes respectively.
Okhai succeeds Fred Amata and will be at the helm of the DGN’s administration for two years.
Meanwhile, congratulatory messages have begun pouring in for the guild’s President-elect.
President of the Association of Nigeria Movie Directors (ANMD), Kenneth Ibeanusi, described Okhai’s victory as “well deserved”, adding that his “emergence will usher in a better administration for the guild.”
“The people’s decision to elect you and the landslide victory you got at the polls speaks volume of your acceptance by most members,” he added.
Also, the Black Actors and Film Guild Canada (BAFGC), The Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF), and the International Black & Diversity Film Festival Canada (IBDFF), while congratulating the President-elect, said it believes the associations can benefit mutually if we work closely together.
“We welcome your administration and look forward to a new beginning of inclusion. Our association and organizations are open to dialogue with you and your team on ways that can be of mutual benefit to both the DGN and our associations as mentioned above here in Canada.
“We anticipate that this new administration led by you, Mr. President-Elect Victor Okhai will open its doors to filmmakers in the diaspora especially those here in Canada,” said Isioro Tokunbo Jaboro, President and Founder of BAFGC, TINFF and IBDFF.
