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Tag: DGN

  • DGN TO HOLD CREATIVE ECONOMIC SUMMIT

    AS the current recession seems to be heightening demand for economic diversification, Nollywood’s apex practitioners’ body, Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, has designed a realistic economic revamp strategy that will make film business a proud Nigerian product with the desired Gross Domestic Product (GDP) earnings.

    A project of the Fred Amata-led administration, the summit which is billed to take place at the Hotel Presidential , Port Harcourt, Rivers State on November 24 and 25, 2016 is expected to attract corporate investors, relevant government agencies, captains of industry, Studio owners and other influencers in the creative sector of the economy.

    Themed “Driving National Growth through Nollywood”, the two-day event which is aimed at making Nollywood a national project was part of the campaign promises of Amata during the DGN election which took place in Asaba, Delta State in February, 2016.

    The November summit is not particularly the first by the DGN, as the platform has been used to drive different projects of the Guild. But by making it a national project, the guild believes this will earn the entire film sector a respectable place in the economy of Nigeria, which will in turn make government to see Nollywood as a viable alternative source of income generation and employer of labour worthy of being included in the country’s annual budget.

    Although the notion among Nigerians that Malaysia came to Nigeria some years ago to get seedlings for oil palm which has placed the former as number one oil palm producing country in the world has been debunked, DGN believes that such a notion as filmmaking and Nollywood into a national project could produce similar results in the immediate future.

    Incidentally, for Nollywood, the narrative is fast changing with Nigerian filmmakers now telling the country’s stories rather than leaving it to foreigners.

    With some Nigerian films now beating Hollywood movies to box office earnings, DGN feels it is just time to conquer whatever technical deficiencies that are left and evolve a more auditable structure for Nollywood to grow as a subsistence and export product.

  • Fred Amata takes oath as DGN president

    Fred Amata takes oath as DGN president

    At a time when Nollywood is in search of plausible frontiers, activities leading to the inauguration of new executives of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), presented an exemplary transition which may enjoy positive references for a long while.

    As popular actor and director, Fred Amata, was being sworn in as President of DGN, at Ojez Lounge, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, last Friday, not only did the presence of the top-notch players in the film industry reflect the respect bestowed on his person and the association, his predecessor’s repertoire of transferred documentation received award-winner’s applause from all.

    Anchored by pioneer president of the Guild, Mathias Obahiagbon, who was head of the inauguration committee, the ceremony started, after some preambles, with a valedictory speech by outgoing president, Andy Amenechi, who chronicled the achievements of his administration to include the establishment of an effective banking system, creation of members’ database and capacity building initiatives.

    “We have run a race and set the pace. It is now time for someone else to take up our place to continue and improve our modest milestones,” Amenechi said.

    He challenged the incoming exco to brace up to the challenges of new times, saying; “…please be informed that DGN can never be the same again. There is just too much awareness and accountability is the new mantra. Members will ask you questions and you must have plausible and progressive answers.”

    Thereafter, Amata took the oath of office, followed by his executives which include Mike Ogunwusi as Vice President; Ugezu Ugor as Secretary; Uchenna Agbo as Assistant Secretary and Oduala Taiwo as P.R.O.

    The oath of allegiance was administered by Hon. Babatunde Ogala, a Lagos lawyer and former Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Before delving into his acceptance speech, Amata urged the DGN Electoral Committee, headed by Fidelis Duker to, as a matter of urgency, conduct elections into the two vacant offices of the Guild: offices of Director of Finance and Provost.

    “On Friday, February 26, 2016, in Asaba, DGN did not only elect a new president, DGN initiated a new clarion call, which is ‘DGN Is One,’” Amata said in appreciation of the process that brought him to office.

    Recall that Amata, who got the backing of initial co-contender, Dickson Iroegbu, defeated Lancelot Imasuen and Kingsley Omoefe at the elections which took place on February 26, 2016, at the Tourist Garden Hotels and Resort, Asaba, Delta State.

    Unlike other elections in the film industry, most of the contenders drank together after the results were announced. The presidential candidates, especially, were seen together in photographs displaying the ‘oneness’ finger sign.

    “Motivated by that oneness,” Amata said, as he continued his acceptance speech, “we have been energised, encouraged to have a new president in an election lauded as the freest and fairest election this guild has ever witnessed.

    “Today, another Friday, we are here. And I am further motivated by the exclusive assembly of your distinguished presence to witness this event in an atmosphere where no winner, no vanquished was declared. This momentum of unity was further manifested when the newly voted executives sat together in their first ever meeting that produced the mantra of this administration. That mantra is ‘Together We Can’. The ‘Together We Can’ mantra is like the famous words of John F Kennedy ‘Ask Not What Your Guild Can Do For You, Ask What You Can Do For Your Guild.’

    “So it’s a challenge to all of us. It is a challenge to you and I to collectively determine our future. I will like to thank the outgoing president, Mr Andy Amenechi, and his sterling executives for raising the bar and establishing standards that have taken DGN forward,” he said.

    Also present at the ceremony were prominent members of the DGN Board of Trustees such as Alhaji Sadiq Balewa and Chief Eddie Ugboma. Others are ANTP president, Pa. Ashaolu, TAMPAN president, Dele Odule, former AGN president, Ejike Asiegbu, AMP President, Ralph Nwadike, ANCOP President, Alex Enyengho, CDGN President, Iyen Agbonifo-Obaseki, Franca Brown, Paul Obazele, Lilian Amah-Aluko, Charles Novia, Charles Inojie, Zik Zulu Okafor, Lancelot Imasuen, Yibo Koko, Keppy Bassey Ekpenyong, Kingsley Omoefe, Collins Onwochei, Dj Tee, Tonih Anih and Famous Otakponmwen, among others.

  • Amata wins DGN Presidential election

    Amata wins DGN Presidential election

    Lucky at his third attempt for the post of President, Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), and filmmaker Fred Amata finally clinched it on Saturday. Amata polled 48 votes to defeat his fellow contenders – Kingsley Omoefe (7), Dickson Iroegbu (3), and Lancelot Imasuen (43). He will preside over the affairs of the Guild for the next two years.

    The election climaxed the three-day session of the Guild at the Tourist Resort Hotel, Asaba, Delta State. To set the stage for the election the DGN  president and filmmaker, Andy Amenechi, on Thursday night,  passed the baton to an electoral body that took over the tension-filled atmosphere.

    Delegates had gathered for three days at the popular Tourist Resort Hotel & Suites, Asaba,  Delta State, for the voting exercise which was preceded by an Annual General Meeting, Unveiling of DGN Electoral Committee (DGNEC) members and manifestos on Thursday.

    Other positions contested for in the election are Welfare Office, Public Relations Officer,  National Secretary, Director of Finance and Assistant Secretary General. While other offices fielded unopposed contestants, the welfare office was contested between Prince Isaac Kola and Dan Chukwueze; the vice presidential position between Mike Ogundu and Okey Zubelu.

    The hotel was a beehive the manifesto proved huge debate as candidates pruned their responses to questions to just two minutes.

    And just few minutes to the elections, Dickson Iroegbu announced his withdrawal from the race, sparking a brief uproar. Iroegbu then tried to announce his support for a particular candidate but was not allowed to. He then publicly told The Nation that he would want his supporters to back Fred Amata.

    “The truth of the matter is that I was not in the race for some selfish reasons,” he said.

    “It was about the Directors Guild of Nigeria and the entire Nollywood. That was why my campaign was centered on Nollywood rebirth.

    “But I observed the desperation being expressed and being a candidate who has interacted with other aspirants, I decided to make a sacrifice for DGN. Yes, I’ve stepped down, not because of any inducement, not because of any horse trading but because we are not politicians.

    “This is a professional Guild.  So I have to make the sacrifice as part of my intention to serve. I have to step down so that the bickering could subside.  And get someone whom most of us can say we’ve made a good choice.  This is not a political decision but one that is good for the Guild I want to represent as president, “Iroegbu said.

    On who he would want his supporters to vote for as DGN president? Iroegbu said; “considering the presentations made by us, I have sensed that supporting Fred Amata will be better.”

    While some delegates pitched their tent of loyalty with their candidates based on ‘indebtedness’ , others voted with their conscience on the ground of conviction and performances during the manifestos and debate sessions.

    Earlier, the candidates had been asked about their disposition should they lose?

    “I will not lead DGN by proxy,” said Dickson, “I will not abandon a child I was part of his conception,” said Imasuen,  “We’ll will work together no matter what,” said Omoefe, while Amata said, “The four of us will come together to move the Guild forward.”

  • DGN Election: Dickson opts out of presidential race

    DGN Election: Dickson opts out of presidential race

    There was a brief uproar, few minutes to the elections of new officers to direct the affairs of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, when one of the strong contenders, Dickson Iroegbu, withdrew from the race.

    Iroegbu who was to contest for presidential office alongside Kingsley Omoefe, Lancelot Imasuen and Fred Amata, after withdrawing from the race wanted to announce his support for one of the candidates, when many kicked causing a brief uproar which was quickly subdued.

    Iroegbu who will not be allowed to announce his support for a particular candidate publicly told The Nation he would want his supporters to back Fred Amata.

    “The truth of the matter is that I was not in the race for some selfish reasons.  It was about the Directors Guild of Nigeria and the entire Nollywood. That was why my campaign was centered on Nollywood rebirth.

    “But I observed the desperation being expressed and being a candidate who has interacted with other aspirants, I decided to make a sacrifice for DGN. Yes, I’ve stepped down, not because of any inducement, not because of any horse trading but because we are not politicians.

    “This is a professional Guild.  So I have to make the sacrifice as part of my intention to serve. I have to step down so that the bickering could subside.  And get someone whom most of us can say we’ve made a good choice.  This is not a political decision but one that is good for the Guild I want to represent as president, “Iroegbu said.

    On who he would want his supporters to vote for as DGN president? Iroegbu said; “considering the presentations made by us, I have sensed that supporting Fred Amata will be better.”

    In terms of security, two policemen have been drafted to the Tourist Resort Hotel, Asaba, venue of the elections, to forestall any crisis.