By Benjamin Njoku

The organizer of the annual Legends of Nollywood Awards,LNA, has announced that this year’s edition of the award will hold between 11th of December and 12th, in Benin, the Edo State capital. It will be the first time the three-year old award will be held outside Lagos.

Paul-Obazele

Founder of Legends of Nollywood Awards and Managing Director of Royal Pictures Limited, main organizer of the award,Paul Obazele disclosed that this year’s edition which is planned to be a three-day event is supported by Zenith Bank Plc, Etisalat, Network Oil & Gas, Best Western Homeville Hotel and the coalition of Nollywood Guilds and association, among others.

According to him, apart from rewarding practitioners for their contributions to the growth and development of the vibrant Nollywood industry, the award has from the 2014 edition been refocused to reach out and celebrate the less privileged and physically challenged “Some of whom do not have the opportunity to relax and watch these television and movie stars we are celebrating as much as they would like to”.

Obazele, a former President of the Association of Movie Producers,AMP, and the current President of the Edo Film Makers Association,EFMA, also stated that the award body will be extending a hand of fellowship to the International Christian Center,ICC, Home for the Needy Uhogua, Edo State that is currently housing the Internally Displaced Persons,IDP’s, in Nigeria as part of the reachout objectives of the award. On this year’s awardees, Director of Operations of Legends of Nollywood Awards, Zack Orji, disclosed that twenty eight (28) legends will receive the LNA crest this year.

The veteran actor gave the names of the awardees including Hajiya Latana Ahmed, Bimbo Manuel, Yinka Ogundaisi, Wale Fanu, Tunde Oloyede, Laolu Ogunniyi, John Nwaobi, Loius Adejumo, Aso Douglas, Sola Fosudo, Zulu Adigwe, Ralph Nwadike, Ramsey Nouah, Opa Williams, Sunday Omobolanle, Ayo Mogaji, Yinka Davies, Sani Muazu, Ngozi Nwosu, Bourdillon Bodio, Chris Obi Rapu among others.