Award winning actor, Okechukwu Chukwudi Ukeje a.k.a OC Ukeje and Ivie Okujaye shone brightly among the galaxy of movie and TV stars that converged at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel for the first edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. While Okeje carted home the highly coveted ‘Best Actor In A Drama’ plaque for his role in the movie Two Brides And A Baby, Okujaye was bestowed the ‘Industry Trial Blazer’ award.

Incidentally the two fledgling thespians were past winners of the now rested Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality TV show. Okeje attained national prominence when he emerged winner of the 2007 edition of AMBO. This earned him a lead role in the movie, White Waters, for which he won the highly coveted ‘Best Upcoming Actor’ award at the 2008 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards.

OC Ukeje

Okujaye emerged the AMBO winner in 2009. As part of her prize, she played the lead role in the movie, Alero’s Symphony.

A highly elated Ukeje showered encomiums on the Amstel Malta brand in his acceptance speech. “I’d like to thank Amstel Malta for giving me the platform to be on this stage accepting this prestigious award today.

Okujaye was also short of words when she was announced as the winner of the ‘Industry Trial Blazer’ of the inaugural AMVCA. The category is a special recognition category. She commented that she did not realise her efforts in film making were being noticed. According to her, two of her films have been directed by popular actor, Desmond Elliot, while she was currently working on a short film.