₦airaland Forum

Like him or loathe his work, it's about time we came to appreciate the brilliance of Chukwudi John Ejiofor, the variable writer, producer and director whose entry into the Nigerian motion picture industry spanned years, and bridges the long-standing celebrated innovates in Nollywood, A director with a knack for inventive storytelling and eye-wowing visuals with immense variety of genres who positioned with the great traditional movie directors of the late '90s and '2000s till date.

Born on February 5 in Enugu State, and bred up in Enugu and Anambra states, the technically brilliant and a seeming workaholic Awka South, Anambra state filmmaker sojourned into the make-believe business in the late 1990s and has caved an abrasion for himself. Apart from his commendable scope as a director, Chuks played an unvaryingly significant role as a reformer for scriptwriting on the business front.

He attended Trinity Secondary School, Apapa Lagos in 1980/84, and graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state in 1996 where he studied Business Administration.

After graduation, providence came calling and he unearthed himself working with front-line veteran filmmaker and producer, Ojiofor Ezeanyanche largely known as OJ, who accrued fortune from filmmaking in the early days of Nollywood, whose movies include ‘Igodo’, ‘Izaga’, ‘Ashes to Ashes’, ‘The Wind’, ‘Only Love’, ‘Egg of Life’, ‘My Love’, ‘Two Rats’ among others which his production outfit became known for.

According to Mr. Ejiofor, “I had passion for movies and entertainment while growing up. So after graduation, I started working with OJ PRODUCTIONS’, one of the most prominent film-producing production studios back then; and from there it all started for me till date”. He stated.
After a long training career with OJ Productions, Chuks realized his deep-rooted dream which he yearned would lend him the clout and inventiveness to make movies his own way without the big-studio interference he had grieved for many years, would manifest.

The delightfully confident Chuks made his first directorial debut in 2011 with ‘Mystery Of Destiny’ starring Kenneth Okonkwo, Stephanie Okereke and Beverly Naya. His excluding fear of failure or making mistakes ascertained him to be an incredibly successful inspiration with the release of his debut film.

“I actually passed through the ranks and files, from property management to production manager. I did continuity and producing movies for different production houses after I left OJ Productions, before embarking on the euphoric journey of screenwriting and directing, which I am very much at home. Being a film director is an exciting and stressful job. Family life is extremely important to me, so I am concerned about it. The over all experiments and effects of my venturing into film-making are simply in the service of touching viewers". He acknowledged.

In his 25-year career in film-making, Chuks Ejiofor has written and directed for Mozzyva Pictures, Multimedia Ltd, Eno Glo Entertainment, and demonstrated proficiently on making films about the importance of family, morals and overcoming adversity with distinctive gifted actors deeper than they look, even though recent efforts have seen him trying to diversify, because it’s always fascinating when a director leaps from one genre to another.

For a supposed director of domestic films, he's more interested in the world kinfolk. Adding to his already dynamic career and developing the writing trademarks of family stories that place him at the top of the screenwriting game of realistic storytelling, twisting wit with ease, Chuks, one of the least well-known names on the list, but a writer and director who has steadily refined his own gentle, bittersweet style wrote and screenplay Love Triangle, Ajo Umume (Igbo), Mystery of Destiny, Ihe Omimi (Igbo), Dark Heart,

Operating mostly in family issues with simplicity and compassion, Chuks is delectably one of the most family perceptive directors in the business, with an unerring eye for the stories that matter. His credits as a director include the romantic family drama ‘Love Triangle (2015) starring Michael Godson, Yvonne Jegede, Mary Lazarus, Devil In Red (2015) starring Yul Edochie, Chinyere Wilfred, Daniel K. Daniel, and Angel Ufome, Dark Heart (2017), Terrible Moment’, starring Mike Ezuruonye, Tonto Dike, Karma (2018), Discrimination (2018), Stab (2018), starring Ruth Kadiri, Wole Ojo, Maureen Okpoko, Roselyn Ngissah, and Roxy Antar, Open Memory (2018), The Deceit (2018), Vendetta (2019, Ajo Umume (Igbo 2020), ‘Ihe Omimi’ (Igbo 2020), and many more.

The Lagos State Chapter of the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN), which is the powerhouse of creativity in the Nigerian movie industry tagged ‘Nollywood’ comprising of production designers, makeup artists, costume designers and property managers on Thursday, October 31 2019 elected and sworn in a new executive officers to run the affairs of the guild in Lagos state for the next two years.

At the end of the election, the award-winning costume and production designer Chairman, Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi and few other contestants were returned unopposed with a two-third vote cast on all the contestants who are Ikechukwu Godwin (Vice-Chairman), Innocent Abah (Secretary), Blessing Awusi (Financial Secretary), Salome Oputa (Treasurer), Leo Omoseebi (PRO), Thelma Odozi-Fiberesima (Provost) and Uche Obiora (Welfare Officer).

The National Secretariat of the guild endorsed the election under the supervision of Mr. Stanley Orobosa (National Provost) and Miss Sandra Ejikeme (National Treasurer) of the guild who conducted the whole process.

The new chairman in her acceptance speech to the media thanked everyone present to witness and observed the election. She promised to do all the necessary things to uplift the guild in the state. “We will organize seminars, training, and workshops for our members. We have lots of members in Lagos state but what happened in the past really made members not to turn up for meetings or pay dues. However, we are going to let them know that things have changed in the guild because we are changing the narrative to bringing sanity in the state chapter of the guild.” She affirmed.

She went further to state that the guild stands for excellence and creativity in totality and corrected the impression of quacks in the industry. “We have professionally trained practitioners for every creative job. I want to see us working in synergy with producers, directors and professional practitioners as we did in the past with no divides or lines to achieve one goal. Most bad creative jobs you may have seen or watched are not from our members but quacks who believe they can try something since the industry is an all-comers affair for now until a proper regulatory body of membership is inaugurated by the government.” She stated.

She said the guild, which also believes in humanitarian service to mankind and humanity, had visited several motherless baby homes since inception in 2002 to contribute their own charitable assistance in one way or the other will go ahead and do more.

Mr. Tony Anih, former President of the Screenwriters a Guild of Nigeria (SWGN) who was present as an observer urged members of the guild to support the new administration and thanked the members for being calm and confidence reposed in him.

“I want to congratulate CDGN for been one of the calmest guilds in Nollywood with no faction of any sort. Your understanding and diligence have gone round the industry as a professional guild. All that I need from the newly elected officers is to reach out to every member, no matter the differences. The turn out is poor and CDGN been one of the pivots in the Nigerian creative industry is the creative hub of Nollywood with lots of departments in it. Even if we fight, we still have to come together again.” He stated.

Mr. Anih furthermore advised CDGN members to always ensure to support the executive in any positive ways they can in terms of attending meetings, paying their dues as at when due and whatever help they need to render. “The guild belongs to all of you and not just the executive. Some time ago, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) was factionalized, but today they have realized and come together”. He affirmed.

Present at the election is Dennis Nkem Onyemeluonu, Perekeme Odon, Chibuko Ikechukwu, Stella Chikereuba Elumeze, Ezike Ebere Augusta, Nkiru Nwauzor and members of the press.

Hmmmm!!!!! I still can't believe Joy has gone to the great beyond. She was a rounded and enigmatic artist with lots of respect to her colleagues, dedicated to anything she was directly or indirectly involved and loyal to the game of art till her death. Rest in power, Joy Osas Ezenobie till we meet and part no more. Adieu!!!