19th December, 2011
The out-going year, 2011 is a year of the good, the bad and of course the ugly in Nollywood. A year full of surprises, heartbreaks and sorrow, some practitioners got married, sealed endorsement deals, won awards and got delivered of babies, among other things. Meanwhile, some were not too lucky as they were heartbroken, spent a long time on sick bed or lost their lives. It was indeed a year of mixed blessings. Being the last edition of NollywoodReel for the year, we spoke to some Nollywood stars on their expectations in the coming year. This is what they have to say.
Segun Arinze: I expect a great 2012, less of tragedy and focus on God to help us. I expect Nollywood to move up to the next level and AGN to be globalised and of course a successful transition to new and effective, peaceful leadership to carry on from where we stop. I also expect to do my own productions.
Monalisa Chinda: Now that I’m back, the next thing on my agenda is to conclude work on my soap, Catwalq, which I intend releasing early 2012. It is a soap that will change the face of programming on TV when it finally hits the airwaves. I have a lot to do and unveil in 2012 and my fans should be ready to see more of me, because I will be thrilling them nonstop.
Stella Damasus: I intend to move forward and pray that my business grows now that I’m a producer. I also expect to make more money to take care of my children, and above all move closer to God because He is the only one that can save us from all the chaos happening globally. I envisage it is going to be a great year.
Prince Ifeanyi Dike: I expect it to be a great year for Nollywood and Nigerians at large. It is also a year I expect all my colleagues to move closer to God. By the grace of God, it will be an end to all the negative stuff that characterized Nollywood in 2011.
John Okafor (Mr. Ibu): I expect something bigger and the continuation of the progress we made this year. We need more professional ideas and establish more outlets for film distribution. Besides, all the guild heads also need to come together and see how we can get the money President Jonathan promised us.
Abubakar Yakub: I look forward to a better year. Even in the face of the looming threats of economic crisis in 2012, I strongly believe that the entertainment industry will boom next year. I expect that the $200million intervention fund from the President would be released next year. We will have stronger and harmonized guilds and associations in Nollywood next year. I pray that God will give us life and health to be part of transformation. There will be no more deaths in the industry.
Hakeem Rahman: Like every Nigerian would pray, I hope it would be a year of better things and uplift. It is also a year that we should move closer to God and pray that He stops all the bad happenings.