Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Igbo Movie Producers Association of Nigeria (IMPAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the Igbo language and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people, with filmmakers pledging to use cinema as a powerful tool to safeguard the language from extinction.
The renewed commitment came in Enugu following the re-election of JohnPaul Nwanganga as president of the association for another two-year term, during IMPAN’s national election, held in Trans-Ekulu.
Other executives elected to steer the affairs of the association include Ngozi Okeke as Vice President, Paul Ibeh as Secretary, Joyce Ikem as Assistant Secretary, Ifemamma Rita as Financial Secretary, Izuchukwu Orjioke as Provost, and Uchenna Okoro as Director of Socials.
Announcing the outcome of the election, Chairman, IMPAN National Electoral Committee, Okey Zinja, praised members for their dedication to the process and acknowledged those who travelled from different parts of the country to participate, despite prevailing challenges.
Congratulating Nwanganga on his re-election, Zinja expressed confidence in his leadership capacity and urged him to continue building on the association’s vision.
“You were our president before and you have emerged again. We believe in your leadership, and we expect you to take the association to the promised land,” he said.
Speaking after the election, Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus, said the future of Igbo filmmaking must go beyond entertainment and focus on telling stories that preserve the identity, history, and cultural values of the Igbo people.
“Elections are very necessary when it comes to the leadership of an organisation.
It is impressive that we are electing new executives, and I believe everything went well,” she said.
Sylvanus stressed that many important aspects of Igbo history remain undocumented and untold, noting that filmmakers have a responsibility to project authentic narratives that reflect the resilience, traditions, and identity of the people.
She said producing quality historical films that truly represent the Igbo story would require deliberate collaboration and investment from stakeholders, instead of leaving the burden on individual filmmakers alone.
Veteran actor, Ferdinand Ohanekwu, also described the election as a significant development, expressing optimism that the new leadership would help reposition Igbo movies and give the industry stronger relevance within Nigeria’s film space.
“I am happy because the election has produced the legitimate leadership of IMPAN. My expectation is that the new executives will perform even better than before and reposition Igbo movies to compete favourably with other Nigerian film sectors,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Nwanganga said one of the major priorities of his administration would be the promotion and preservation of the Igbo language through intentional film productions centred on culture and identity.
“I feel highly honoured. Considering my age, I see it as a privilege to lead Igbo filmmakers in Nigeria once again,” he said.
He recalled the vital role played by Igbo filmmakers in shaping the early success of Nollywood, pointing out that the landmark movie ‘Living in Bondage’ helped bring Nigerian cinema to global recognition.
Nwanganga said the association would intensify efforts to use filmmaking to revive interest in speaking Igbo, preserve cultural heritage, and ensure future generations remain connected to their roots.
“I am open to collaboration and partnerships that will help promote our language, culture, and heritage,” he said.
He added that the association would invest in proper research into Igbo history to produce culturally accurate films that authentically portray the traditions, history, and identity of the Igbo people, while contributing to the long-term survival of the language.
