2021 BON Awards: late Chico Ejiro, Madam Kofo, set for honours

Late Nigerian movie producer, Chico Ejiro, will receive special recognition honour at the 2021 Best of Nollywood awards.

This year’s edition of the awards ceremony will hold on Saturday, December 11, in Lokoja, Kogi State. 

Also billed to be receive special recognition honours include Actress Abiola Atanda better known as ‘Madam Kofo’, and Africa Magic.

The organisers of the BON awards announced plans to specially recognise individuals and organisations that have contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood.

The founder of the BON, Seun Oloketuyi, in a statement, noted that ‘it is important to celebrate our known and recognised industry icons.’

The statement “Not only does this encourage the spirit of growth in the industry, but we would also be doing these three parties a major disservice if we do not recognise them.

“Madam Kofo is a veteran who has quietly worked on putting Nollywood on the map of world industries for more than five decades.

“A thespian with both stage and screen presence, Madam Kofo worked with the likes of the late Hubert Ogunde and is today still relevant. Such a woman deserves all the accolades we can give her.

“Africa Magic is perhaps another under served brand. Nollywood of today owes a lot to that brand, and because it is an organisation; we many times forget to give them the credit they deserve, which is why we have deemed it fit to recognise them and say thank you for their contributions to the industry.

“Finally came Chico Ejiro. This special recognition even though posthumous struck the team the most because we would have loved that he was alive to receive the award himself.

“Many in Nollywood owe their careers and success to Ejiro and even though we are sad to have lost him, this award is to help people remember his enormous contribution to the industry.”