Nollywood Mourns Amaka Igwe

Last week, Nollywood
and the entire Entertainment Industry in Nigeria were thrown into mourning as the industry lost an icon, Amaka Igwe, a veteran film maker, writer, Director, producer and CEO of top production outfit, Amaka Igwe studios.
A pioneer of modern Nigerian TV and Movie production, she stamped her authority in the entertainment industry several years ago with quality productions such as “Rattle Snake,” ‘Checkmate,’ Fuji House of Commotion and several others.
She graduated from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife with a B.Sc in Education/Religion and pioneered soap operas in the 90s with ‘Checkmate’ The renowned film maker was once a lecturer at the Anambra State University of Technology and an important stakeholder in the Nigeria film industry.
In 2002 she started BOBTV (Best of the Best TV) a film and television programme forum held annually in Abuja, Nigeria, a venue for meetings, conferences and workshops related to film/video production, marketing and distribution. She was also a member of the International Board of Trustees for Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and party of its jury.
The revered movie icon passed away at the age of 51 after she suffered an Asthmatic attack and was immediately rushed to hospital, but died on the way. The unfortunate incident we gathered happened while she was in Enugu for pre production of an Igbo series.
Among Nollywood stars who paid tribute to her were, the President Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, Emeka Ike, Steph Wora, Oby Edozich, Iretiola Doyle, Kalu Ikeagwu and Jide Kosoko. Others were: Omotola Jalade-Ekemide, Genevieve Nnaji, Kate Henshew, Stephaine Okereke Linus, Don Pedro Obaseko and Stella Damascus amongst others.
They described her death as a great loss to the Nigeria entertainment as it has created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill in a very long time.