Condolence messages have been pouring in over the death of the Founder of the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Mrs Peace Anyiam-Osigwe. Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) are among the mourners of the late President of the Association of Movie Producers.
Sanwo-Olu described Anyiam-Osigwe as an “amazon of the creative sector, a trailblazer and visionary leader, who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the creative industry in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole during her lifetime”.
Anyiam-Osigwe was also Chief Executive Officer of the African Film Academy. Aged 53, she died on Monday at a private hospital in Lagos.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, the Governor recalled that Anyiam-Osagwe produced many blockbuster movies, facilitated, trained and empowered hundreds of young people in the creative industry through the ‘Film in a Box’ programme by the African Film Academy, in conjunction with the state government.
He said that her death is a great loss to the state, considering the unique role the deceased was playing in the actualisation of the various commitments and programmes of the Sanwo-Olu administration to the entertainment industry through the Africa Film Academy and Lagos Committee on Film Production Empowerment, which the deceased was a member.
The Governor also commiserated with the deceased family, friends and associates, as well as movie producers, directors, actors and other practitioners in the Nollywood sector, urging them to continue the good legacy of the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the government and good people of Lagos State, I sympathise with the Association of Movie Producers and the entire Nollywood industry on the demise of the renowned filmmaker and Founder of the African Movie Academy Awards, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
“The late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe is one of the pillars of Nollywood in Nigeria. She was a bundle of talent and one of the best filmmakers not only in Nigeria but also on the African continent. She used her God-given talent to advance the course of mankind and contributed immensely to the creative sector through African Movie Academy Awards and African Film Academy.
“Peace Anyiam-Osigwe was a reliable partner in the Entertainment and Tourism pillar of our Greater Lagos agenda. She partnered with the Lagos State Government to train hundreds of young people in Acting, Art Directing, Light and Lighting, Editing, Sound Production, and Post Production, among others, through the African Film Academy. She was also a member of the Lagos State Committee on Film Production Empowerment.
“Peace Anyiam-Osigwe’s death will leave a vacuum that would take some time to be fill in the creative industry. I pray that God will grant the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe eternal rest and grant the family, colleagues, and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
In a statement issued in Jos on Tuesday, the NFC said that Anyiam-Osigwe’s has left the Nigeria’s movie industry in a state of mourning. It described her death as “heart wrenching, painful and saddening”, saying that the film industry has lost “one of its finest, most dedicated, consummate and hardworking stakeholder who contributed so much to the growth of Nigeria’s film industry”.
NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dr Chidia Maduekwe further described her death as a “robbery of a legend whose impact within Nollywood shall continue to be referenced”.
Maduekwe said that Anyiam-Osigwe caught the fancy and interest of “Nigerians and indeed Africans especially youths and upcoming filmmakers, given the sustained and annual film training and mentorship opportunities she provided through the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Peace Anyiam-Osigwe’s role in uplifting the professional competencies of filmmakers, content development for the small and big screen; film distribution and marketing, film festivals and awards, film policy development are remarkable.
“Her contributions to the professionalisation and growth of the various film industry guilds and associations knew no bounds due to her deep participation and leadership support for Federal Government Film Development initiatives. She shall be greatly missed”.
