Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos described the late filmmaker and founder of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Peace Anyiam-Osigwe as the Amazon of the creative sector.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the late filmmaker was a trailblazer and a visionary leader.
He said the deceased contributed immensely to the growth and development of the creative industry in the country and Nigeria as a whole during his lifetime.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anyiam-Osigwe, the President of the Association of Film Producers and Chief Executive of the African Film Academy (AFA), died on Monday at a private hospital in Lagos at the age of 53.
Sanwo-Olu said Anyiam-Osagwe, in his lifetime, produced several blockbuster films, facilitated, trained and empowered hundreds of young people in the creative industries through the ‘Film in a Box’ program by AFA, in conjunction with the state government. .
He said the death of the movie producer was a great loss to the country, because of the unique role he played in implementing the programs and commitments of the Sanwo-Olu administration in the entertainment industry.
The governor also noted that the deceased played a unique role through AFA and the Lagos Committee on the Empowerment of Film Production of which he was a member.
He is loved by his family, friends and colleagues as well as film producers, directors, actors and other practitioners in Nollywood over the death of the famous filmmaker.
Sanwo-Olu appealed to him to preserve the legacy left by the late Anyiam-Osigwe.
“On behalf of the family, the government and the good people of Lagos, I sympathize with the Film Producers Association and the entire Nollywood industry on the death of filmmaker and founder of the African Movie Academy Awards, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
”The late Anyiam-Osigwe was one of the pillars of Nollywood in Nigeria. He is a bundle of talent and one of the best filmmakers, not only in Nigeria but also in the African continent.
“He used his God-given talents to progress in humanity and made great contributions in the creative sector through the African Film Academy Award and the African Film Academy.
“Peace Anyiam-Osigwe is a trusted partner in the entertainment and tourism pillar of the Greater Lagos agenda.
“They partnered with the Lagos State Government to train hundreds of young people in acting, directing art, lighting and lighting, editing, sound production and post-production, among others, through the African Film Academy,” he said.
The governor said Anyiam-Osigwe’s death will leave a void that will take some time to fill in the creative industry.
He prayed that God would grant him eternal rest and his family, friends and colleagues to bear their irreparable loss.