Recently updated on October 24th, 2022 at 03:51 pm
Eminent individuals have been honoured at the 2017 edition of the ZUMA Film Festival (ZUFF) Awards with the 2017 ZUFF Rock of Fame Awards.
Late Nigerian movie veterans: Sam Loco-Efe; James Iroha, popularly known as ‘Giringori Akabogu’; Kashim Yero; Late Oba Funsho Adeolu; Hajiya Amina; and the late actor and producer Adeyemi Afolayan, a.k.a Ade Love (father of veteran movie director Kunle Afolayan), were given posthumous honour of the 2017 ZUFF Rock of Fame Awards.
Also, other living and practicing professionals were honoured with the Life-Time Achievement Awards category. The recipients include: Ola Balogun; Sadiq Daba; Edward and Abdulkaraem Muhammed; Brenda Shehu and Femi Shaka, Professor of Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt.
According to Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and Chairman of the festival organising committee::
“This is our modest attempt in appreciating the enormous contributions of these film practitioners in the Nigeria film industry and their achievements thereof.
They are today recognised as the first recipients of the Nigerian Film Society Rock of Fame Award, the highest professional recognition within the Nigeria Film industry based solely on merit.
The labour of love and commitment to Nigeria’s development of our industry geniuses shall continually be recognised and rewarded.
We have institutionalised the recognition and award as part of ZUMA Film Festival, and therefore shall recognise several veterans during each and subsequent edition of the festival.”
Dr. Maduekwe added that the awardees will be formally inducted into the ‘Rock of Fame’ at the Rock of Fame Arena of the Nigerian Film Parliament in Jos, the Plateau State Capital, in 2018.
He explained that in order to effectively showcase Nollywood as a viable investment opportunity and alternative means of employment and wealth creation, the once biennial ZUFF, is to henceforth be held annually.
