Atiku, Anyiam-Osigwe eulogise Amaka Igwe

Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described late prolific movie producer, Amaka Igwe, nee Eneh, as a jewel of the Nollywood industry.
The former Vice President made the assertion on Tuesday in a tribute to the Nollywood writer, producer and director of distinction.
In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, Abubakar expressed shock at the demise of Igwe, a major player in the Nigerian movie industry.
Abubakar recalled that Igwe’s first major production, “Decrees of Fate,” won four awards at the National Festival of Television Programmes in 1988.
“Amaka (Igwe) was one of the pioneers of the movie industry. Her presence in Nollywood grew to become quite impressive as she amassed a number of well received movies,” Abubakar said.
He said that the versatile artiste organized the annual BOB TV film festival and was noted for productions, which included “Rattle Snake” and “Violated” that dwelt heavily on contemporary family issues.
According to him, her long-running TV drama serial, Checkmate, and the sitcom, Fuji House of Commotion, regularly held families spellbound.
He said that it is to the credit of people like the late Igwe that the movie industry has continued to play crucial role in the economy of the country, both in job creation and revenue generation.
The Turaki Adamawa expressed his condolences to the Igwe and Eneh families and friends and associates of the deceased, in particular members of the Nollywood.
The Chief Executive Officer of the African Movies Academy Awards, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, has equally eulogised Igwe.
In a statement on Tuesday, Anyiam-Osigwe wrote: I received with sadness this morning the news of the passing away of my big sister and Nollywood Icon, Mrs. Amaka Igwe (MFR).
“I was preparing to attend the official launch of The Cable online Newspapers on the invitation of Mr. Simon Kolawole, the former Editor of Thisday Newspaper when this sad news hit me like I tornado.
“I was in total shock and lost my mental balance. It took me time to recover from the sad reality that our own Auntie Amaka is gone while in Enugu in preparation for a movie project.
“The motion picture industry in Nigeria and Africa will sorely miss this revolutionary who raised the bar of professionalism and artistic excellence early in Nollywood when it was not fashionable.
“Amaka Igwe gave herself and applied herself to producing films and soaps that are pacesetters. She was a creative entrepreneur of outstanding qualities who came, saw and conquered in her 51 years of existence on earth.
“Amaka Igwe worked with us as a Jury member of the Africa Movie Academy Awards at the early stage of the awards and her contributions were far-reaching and rewarding.
“On behalf of management and staff of AMAA I extend my heartfelt condolence to her husband, Mr. Charles Igwe, the children, her immediate and extended family members and loved ones. May God continue to stay with the family in this very moment and always.
“May God rest the soul of our departed heroine of Nollywood.”