By Perekeme Odon
It is with grief filled sadness that the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), expresses deep sympathies and condolences to the Nigerian entertainment industry and the family of our enigmatic friend & colleague of the guild, Director Chico Ejiro, aka (Mr. Prolific) who passed away on December 25, 2020 at the Age of 57.
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| Chico Ejiro |
Over the centuries, history has witnessed the achievements of great individuals who left an indelible mark in the world with their ingenuity, courage and service to mankind. Filmmaker and entrepreneur Chico Ejiro must sit among these great individuals.
Chico was easily the most impactful of the avant-garde filmmakers who walked the creative passageway in the late 80s and early 1990s squeezing water out of stone to achieve success; and birth the phenomenal Nollywood.
He had an uncannily astute and alert mind that provided simple practical solutions and actualisation to ideas, events, projects and businesses. A gift he readily shared with all he encountered to proffering solutions, building millionaires, making star actors, filmmakers and businessmen that reflect in all the major institutions in Nollywood.
His #29 Bank-Olemoh Street office was a haven for filmmakers drawn to the easy charm, genuine compassion and opportunities that provided Chico Ejiro to build lives, careers and legacies.
He will be remembered as one that negotiated the path of never-before-seen film-making in the face of no budget to pursue justice, expression, profitable freedom and aspirations for other handicapped filmmakers.
Today, as many unknowingly reap from the fruits of his enigmatic models making international standard productions, DGN mourns this irreplaceable loss. The legacies of Chico Ejiro will continue to serve as inspirational reference points in the face of no budget films and the evolution of Nollywood.
Surely we must mourn Chico Ejiro's death. Yet the inevitability of death means that... We must celebrate his life!!!
DGN is collating tributes and testimonies from all he encountered and inspired. Please send your tributes with your name and contact details to dgnnigeria@gmail.com
A condolence register has been officially opened to mourn the late Chico Ejiro at the DGN Secretariat; #15, Simisola Street, Off Olufemi Street, Off Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos state.
May his creative soul Rest in Perfect Peace.
Olorogun Fred Amata
President
Directors’ guild of Nigeria (DGN)
