The much publicized maiden Nollywood Divas Awards that would have been the high point of the third Eko International Film Festival was postponed until further notice, because the organizers did not receive the cooperation of the Actors Guild of Nigeria ((AGN) due to factional disagreements and petty rivalries among the members who have been boycotting the film festival after their attempt to dictate to the organizers failed.

One of the top nominees of the Nollywood Divas Awards Rita Dominic the best actress at the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and another nominee were seen at the 2012 Kuramo Conference same Saturday night at the Conference Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites International and they wondered how the organizers could launch the awards without any formal invitation given to the 20 nominees.
“The organizers have not done the right thing, that is why we cannot attend the film festival,” said one of them.

But Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, President of Eko International Film Festival said he actually invited everyone of them through a formal official letter of invitation addressed to Ibinabo Fiberisima, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) which was the right thing to do. In fact, he also met with former president of the AGN, Ejike Asiegbu and Zik Zulu Okafor, President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) months ago, but internal disputes caused by different interest groups in the guilds have made him to postpone the Nollywood Divas Awards till 2013.
But another insider said Ibinabo was pissed that she was not among the top 20 nominees.
"Abi she no be Nollywood diva?"
"No. Na Nollywood ex-con."

“We are still going to launch the maiden Nollywood Divas Awards sponsored as a separate event before the next Eko International Film Festival,” said Mr. Opara.
He thanked Heineken, Silverbird Cinemas, Silverbird TV, Galaxy TV, National Mirror, Daily Sun, The Nation, The Guardian, Entertainment Express, Daily Champion, OnoBello and others for their cooperation and support to make the third Eko International Film Festival a successful event and increasing his determination to improve the standards in the future editions regardless of the challenges.

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