Veteran Nollywood actor, Ebun Oloyede, popularly known as Olaiya Igwe, in far away London, United Kingdom reportedly won the prestigious Black Entertainment, Film, Fashion, Television, Arts and Sports (BEFFTA) Certificate of Achievement and Lifetime Achievement Award at the weekend.
The bestowal was in recognition of his “excellent and outstanding contribution to society and humanity.’
Barely a few days after winning the award, the popular actor also got appointed as Nigeria’s Director of Marketing, MAF Canada Quick Oats.
The all-fiber food supplement is a breakfast and swallow meal produced in Canada and now making an entry into the Nigerian market.
It’s health benefits such as reduction of cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, poor eyesight and weight reduction make it an ideal meal in the home, irrespective of age.
Olaiya is expected to use his wide influence to mobilise his fellow Nollywood actors and actresses to also use their influences to make the product the preferred choice of every household in Nigeria and raise 100 thousand distributors and retailers across the 36 states of Nigeria and in the rest of Africa.
His appointment followed his popularity and successes in the Nigerian film industry, having served as inspiration to several young and old in the make-believe world.
Likened to famous American actor, Tyler Perry, Olaiya began his movie career in the 70s and has produced several celebrated movies that teach morality and culture and have fetched him several awards.
Many of his celebrated movies which include ‘Ololade Mr Money,’ ‘Abela pupa’ ‘ Iru eshin’ and ‘Osuwon’ have remained evergreen.
He is also the first and only actor that foresaw and prophesied the coming of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group through the movie called ‘Aditu’ (Misery of Unity) which he shot many years ago. He reportedly spent N70 million for the production and is still showing on his YouTube channel till today
The movie warned the government and Nigerians to be wary of an impending doom and how the government could stop it.
He is the founder of Olaiya Igwe Entertainment and doubles as Director General of Connecting to the Grassroots Initiative (CGI).