MAUREEN AZUH writes on the achievements of veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, who will receive a national award alongside other Nollywood stars

erhaps because drama thrives on conflict, the nomination of some key practitioners in the entertainment industry, as part of prominent people to receive national awards, stirred controversies. While some fear that ‘extra judicial factors’ played up certain names, the fact now is that the coast is crystal clear in terms of the entertainers that make the list for the year.

Nollywood has been divided on what some folk term the president’s “biased choice” of candidates for the national award. According to reports, angry practitioners from the Yoruba movie industry have accused the president of tribalism while their English counterparts feel he is rewarding those who were involved in his election campaign

At the event scheduled for November 14 in Abuja, those to be honoured are Olu Jacobs, Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke, Osita Iheme and Kanayo O Kanayo, all for the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic awards. Some may believe that one or two other practitioners deserve to make the list – even before one or two now sitting comfortably on it – no one will doubt the factors that qualified Jacobs for the crest.

He, for instance, has really come a long way as an entertainer of repute, and certainly deserves a national award. This will be in addition to others he has got, including the African Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in 2007. For the veteran actor, the award will be a justification for his dogged belief in his talent.

As a young man, Jacobs defied his parents’ wish and studied Dramatic Arts at the Royal Academy in England. It was at the time when most parents felt acting was not professional and discouraged their children from taking active roles in entertainment.

The respected actor persevered especially at a time actors received peanuts, playing major roles on stage, from where he moved to acting Yoruba movies. As a dynamic entertainer, he is seen as a role model to many young Nigerians who are hoping to join the entertainment industry. He has also played major roles in movies of Igbo and Hausa production as well as countless others in English. Certainly, no one among the nominees deserves the award more than Olu Jacobs.

Described as the Julia Roberts of Africa by the CNN, Genevieve Nnaji has also come a long way as an actress and model. She is about one of the most recognisable faces in African entertainment due to the numerous roles she has played and is still playing in the industry. Her 2005 African Academy Movie Award for Best Actress of the Year was a boost for her career. Yet, a national award will do a lot more for her. Nnaji has continued to rise despite some controversies that have been associated with her. She has remained enduring and has starred in over 50 Nigerian movies–to say the least.

And now enter Kanayo O Kanayo and Stephanie Okereke, both of who have also contributed immensely to the growth of the industry. For Kanayo, it has been a success story from his early days of acting in 1992, when the industry was still grappling for an identity.

However, while there are varied opinions on the nomination, there have been an outpouring. Asides Baba Sala’s conferment of the member of the Order of the Niger, movie practitioners were first nominated and given national awards in 2005. Since then, over 18 practitioners have been duly honoured. They include, Dr Yemi Farounbi, OON, Wale Adenuga, MFR and Lari Williams MFR.

Others who have also been recognised for their outstanding performance are Justus Esiri, OON; Chief Adebayo Faleti, Brendan Shehu, OON; Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, OON; Pete Edochie, MON); Mr. Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, OON; Zeb Ejiro, OON; Peter Igho, MFR; Eddie Ugbomah, OON and late Yusuf Mohammed, MFR.

http://www.punchng.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4267:deserved-honour-for-king-of-all-tribes&Itemid=543

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