BY SAM ANOKAM

Yewande Sadiku, an investment banker with over 17 years experience who produced the screen adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best selling novel, “Half of a Yellow Sun” has recounted the challenges she faced producing the big-budget film.

According to her, she spent about $10 million to produce the film, which was directed by Biyi Bandele and stars the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, OC Ukeje, Hakeeem Kae-Kazim, Anika Noni Rose, Tina Mba, Gloria Young and Zack Orji.

Sadiku said, the film, which soundtrack was recorded by D’banj chose her because she has the skills that are relevant to get it going. Explaining that it was tough getting investors to fund the production,Sadiku said her goodwill, popularity of the author and success of the novel, which  has sold more than a million copies and have been translated into 30 languages attracted her sponsors.

She made this revelation during the week, at the press preview of the movie  at Ozone Cinemas, Lagos. The movie is due to hit the Nigerian cinemas on Friday, April 25. It had its world premiere at the 38th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada to great applause, and subsequently premiered in Europe at the BFI London Film Festival, London, last year.