As each day goes by movie producer, actress and writer, Lilian Amah-Aluko inches closer to the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) presidency. Only on Friday, October 23, she was the cynosure of all eyes and pockets at the fundraising dinner at Protea Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. Not only was the hall filled to capacity, many of the guests did not just have deep pockets, they were willing to contribute to Amah-Aluko’s campaign purse.
The event, anchored by popular comedian, Teju Babyface and actor, Bambino Anaechina, had in attendance industry stakeholders and eminent personalities in the society, such as Mrs Oyindamola Ogunsanwo who represented the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ambode, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Sam Obiakheme, Franca Brown, Tunji Bamishigbhin, Alhaji Teju Kareem, Yomi Fash Lanso, Mr and Mrs Sam Boye, Kate Adepegba, Memuna Yahaya, Mrs Jackie Omotosho, Obi Madubuogu, Chief Phillip Odi, Wisdon Nwankwo, Judith Nwachukwu, Agatha Amata, Kalu Ikeagwu, Dan Chris Ebie, Olatunbosun Olaigbe among others.
Amah-Aluko said she is running for the presidency of the revered, valued and totally denigrated association “because I have identified key areas where I would like to and believe I can make impact; Impact that will take the association to a different level and bring a huge change to the industry and the lives of movie producers at large”.
She said that having served for two terms as vice president under the leadership of Paul Obazele and the out-going Zik Zulu Okafor, she has come to realise that steering the ship of AMP needs more than anyone man can muster.
“It requires the combined effort of a dynamic team of individuals to the table their various skills,” she said, adding that together with her team, her vision will include working to expand the entire ecosystem for all members thereby lifting AMP to national and global prominence.
This vision, she said, summarises her strategic initiatives which included Inclusive Regime, Peace Initiative, Social Welfare, Service and Transparency, Capacity Building, Personal Development, New Constitution and Global Visibility/Collaborations.
Many at the occasion praised Amah-Aluko for her strong will, courage, vision, honesty and rare commitment to succeed in the office she is seeking. Among them was, Agatha Amata who passionately vouched for her as a go-getter. She therefore appealed to members of AMP to give her the needed votes that will enable the screen goddess to redirect the association.
The campaign Director General, Emeka Rollas, appealed to everyone present to join hands with Amah-Aluko to actualise her dreams, as “she is the only aspirant with a positive vision that can restore the lost glory of the association.”
First to make a donation was Teju Kareem of Zmirage, who said he has worked with the two-term former vice president of AMP, whom he said is very qualified to become the association’s president.
“It is a new dawn… and I believe that Lilian will represent and present that new dawn,” he said.
Kareem, who has worked with Amah-Aluko over the years on the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) project, said it was her strength that brought him to her.
“She is not a pretender and if you must keep your money with anybody, I recommend Lilian. She is very accountable,” he said.
Kareem went on to contribute a sizeable N2 million to the campaign effort from his pocket and on behalf of his company, Zmirage.
Filmmaker, Tunji Bamishigbin, who is friend to Ralph Nwadike, so far Amah-Aluko’s contender to the AMP presidency said she was supporting her because she is a serious-minded person.
“Ralph is my very good friend but he never mentioned to me that he wanted to contest. I gave my word to Lilian because she will be a better president of AMP,” he said. He went on to make a N1 million donation.