TheNewsGuru

Tag: Zeb Ejiro

  • Zeb Ejiro to receive lifetime achievement award in London

    Zeb Ejiro to receive lifetime achievement award in London

    Veteran Nigerian filmmaker and producer, Zeb Ejiro, is to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award, at the 2024 Nigerian Week, London.

    The Nigerian Week is a week-long international festival with admixture of entertainment and business events, which holds annually in London, United Kingdom.

    In an invitation extended to the producer of 1996 blockbuster movie, “Domitila”,  obtained by newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the award is in recognition of Ejiro’s immense contributions to Nollywood and entertainment industry in general.

    The event holding from  July 22 to July 28 is organised by SRTV London in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigerian Films Corporation, Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP),, among others.

    The festival showcases and promotes the best of Nigerian products, services and businesses and as well celebrates the best of the Nigerian diverse and rich cultural heritage.

    It features a mixture of entertainment, music, dances, fashion, food, exhibition, trade Fair, investment opportunity workshops and summit, allowing visitors to join in and have a first-hand experience in culture and experiences.

    Programme of activities lined up for the 2024 festival include; Afro beat music extravaganza, moonlight film festival with exhibition of the best of African movies and Nigeria fashion show and contest.

    There will also be Nigeria cultural display featuring  National Troupe and trade exhibition of Nigerian cash crops and agricultural produce, and many more.

    Zeb Ejiro, the famed Nigerian filmmaker born in Isoko, Delta State, is one of the two brothers of Chico Ejiro, also a veteran  filmmaker and producer who died in 2020.

    In 2005, Zeb Ejiro received  National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by former President Olusegun Obasanjo,  in recognition of his immense contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

    The acclaimed Sheik of Nollywood, has the following films to his credit; Nneka the Pretty Serpent (1994), Domitila (1996), Sakobi the Snake Girl (1998) and Mortal Sin (2003).

    Others are;  Extreme Measure (2003), A Night in the Philippines 1 and 2 (2005), Yellow Cassava (2016), Pure Honey (2017) and Domitila: the Sequel (2017).

    Zeb Ejiro is also the brains behind, the longest running drama series on NTA in the 1990s, ‘Ripples’, currently back on DSTV.

  • I thought he would survive it-Zeb Ejiro opens up Chico’s death

    I thought he would survive it-Zeb Ejiro opens up Chico’s death

    25th of December 2020 will forever remain indelible in family of Ejiro.That day one of their own, Chico Ejiro the prolific filmmaker, died.

    In a chat with The Sun, Zeb Ejiro revealed that Chico Ejiro is the first and last person he talks to everyday, adding that he will be greatly missed.

    According to him:”I am going to miss him a lot! It is not easy losing your immediate younger brother who was so vibrant. But like I said, he was so supportive. He is the first and last person I call everyday no matter what corner or part of the world I find myself; we talked everyday. I am going to miss him, the family will miss him and the industry is going to is him. Chiko was someone who worked so hard to raise the industry. I tell people I discovered the bar but Chiko took it to a new level by raising the bar. God used him to discover a whole generation of thespians. He made avenues for people to put food on their table. The industry will definitely miss him because nobody has done the awesome number of movies he did. The industry will miss him and I will miss him greatly; all creative people will miss him”.

    Speaking further, Zeb noted that he cannot wrap his mind around the fact that Chico is gone.

    “I was on location shooting the last part of my trilogy, Sakobi Returns and he was on location shooting a movie as well and we were talking often. I would ask how he was doing and he would tell me he was doing well. But he complained of weakness but he promised me he would be able to pull through so we were talking frequently. There was no premonition. I didn’t see it coming; nobody saw it coming! That is why everybody is so shocked! I thought he would survive it. It is so difficult talking about him. Sometimes, I still refer to him in the present tense because I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that he is gone. I am still battling to come to terms with the reality on ground”.

  • Family announces date for Chico Ejiro’s funeral

    Family announces date for Chico Ejiro’s funeral

    The family of late Nollywood producer, Chico Ejiro has slated Saturday, February 20, 2021 for his burial.

    This was made known in a statement released and signed by his brother Zeb Ejiro, on behalf of the family.

    The statement titled ‘Our illustrious son, Chico Ejiro is gone’ reads :“The Ejiro family of Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, wish to formally announce the untimely passing to eternity of their most cherished son, Chico Ejiro on Christmas day, December 25, 2020.

    “His demise followed complications arising from high blood pressure for which he had been treated . He had returned delightfully to the only business he was so passionate about and had concluded his movie shoot barely two days before Christmas. His painful death was a tragic drama that took less than 10 minutes and there was silence.

    “Chico as he was widely known both locally and internationally, was a distinguished creative industry entrepreneur, a film and television Director/Producer, a talent investor and cineaste. He was reputed to have directed over 95 movies , a fit often hailed as unprecedented in Nigeria’s motion picture industry known as Nollywood. It was for his pacy and innovative directorial production style at the nascent stage of Nollywood that he was nicknamed Mr Prolific.

    “Beyond his core industry practice, Chico was known for his humane spirit, a deeply kind nature , his uncommon humility and amiable aura that inspired the wide partnerships he built and network of friends within and outside of the creative industry.

    “His company, Grand Touch Pictures, was known to have partnered with over 30 different movie organisations for television, film and reality TV show productions.

    “Importantly, Chico was a family man. He was totally committed to the cause of the welfare and happiness of his family. No matter where he was , whatever meeting, no matter how important the occasion, everything stopped at the call of his family.

    “His devotion to his wife, children and indeed sibblings was simply exemplary. He was passionately attached and ever grateful to his elder brother and mentor , Zeb Ejiro, OON, who inspired his career switch to the motion picture industry even though he read Agriculture at the university.
    Chico in the last six years had devoted his entire life and resources to assure the health and survival of his youngest child who was diagnosed with cancer related ailments while still a toddler.

    “His devoted wife, Joy Ejiro , has since been in the US to attend to their son and had returned with him temporarily for the yuletide holiday after being away for two years .

    “The funeral for this scion of Isoko nation, South-South region and indeed Delta state has been fixed for Saturday, February 20, 2021.
    He is survived by wife, children, sibblings, uncles and cousins.

    SIGNED
    Zeb Ejiro, OON
    For the Ejiro Family.