Osoba chairs launch of book on female filmmakers

Ladies Calling the Shots, a book chronicling the exploits of 16 female film and television directors in Nigeria, is set to be launched in Lagos. 

The event will hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, under the chairmanship of former governor of Ogun state, Olusegun Osoba.

The dignitaries expected at the event are  Akinwumi Ambode, governor of Lagos state; Toyin Saraki, president, Wellbeing Foundation Africa and wife of senate president; Omolewa Ahmed, wife of the governor of Kwara; Onofiok Luke, speaker Akwa Ibom state house of assembly; Hadiza Bala Usman; managing director of The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, vice chancellor, Kwara State University; Wale Adenuga, chairman Wale Adenuga Productions, and Bernard Bankole, president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA).

Written by Niran Adedokun, a Lagos based public relations consultant, lawyer and writer, the book profiles these directors right from their early days through their educational career and eventual choice of filmmaking.

Adedokun, who is one of the early reporters of the home video revolution which later metamorphosed into Nollywood says the book was inspired by the irrepressible spirit of ladies who have forged on in this “male-dominated area of endeavour in spite of all the challenges that they face”.

The book, which is over 290 pages is premised on the relatively obscure nature of the director’s role in the filmmaking process and the need to celebrate the women who are making Nigeria proud on this front.

Host at the public presentation, which takes off at 12pm, will be award-winning actor, Femi Jacobs; while the book will be reviewed by award-winning writer, Toni Kan.

Published by Grace Springs Africa Publishers, Ladies Calling the Shots features female directors like Lola Fani Kayode and the late Amaka Igwe amongst others, the launch will hold on November 13, 2017.