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By Damiete Braide
Ambassador Ifeoma Okeke-Ozzoude’s selfless service to the Nigerian film industry has finally paid off.
After a hotly contested election recently, she emerged as the national secretary of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), a development she described as both emotional and deeply fulfilling.
Her victory marks a significant milestone, not only in her personal journey, but also in the evolving story of AGN as an institution committed to reform, unity and growth.
Expressing gratitude, Okeke-Ozzoude described the win as a collective triumph. She credited the former AGN president, Emeka Rollas, as the person who laid a strong foundation for the association, noting that her emergence as secretary represents continuity rather than a break from the past.
According to the actor, her victory was a win for loyalty, dedication and for women within the industry, giving thanks to God for what she called a purposeful moment in her career.
With experience spanning over 28 years as an actor and producer, Okeke-Ozzoude brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and administrative competence to her new role. She served for more than 15 years as Chief of Staff to past AGN presidents, a position that placed her at the centre of policy formulation, crisis management and internal coordination within the guild.
Despite handling multiple responsibilities, this is the actor’s first time of contesting for an elected executive position, a step she believes came at the right time. Her personal strategic vision is rooted in service, while her goal is to contribute her best abilities toward improving AGN’s structure, strengthening welfare packages for members and advancing the overall vision of the guild.
Central to this vision is collaboration. Okeke-Ozzoude emphasised her readiness to work harmoniously with other members of the National Executive Committee to achieve tangible and lasting results for the upliftment of the guild.
The actor’s mission statement reflects her belief in unity as the backbone of progress. She is committed to fostering love and togetherness among members while creating opportunities for engagement, empowerment and professional development.
To Okeke-Ozzoude, a united Guild is better positioned to protect its members, strengthen its negotiating power while commanding respect both locally and internationally.
Described by colleagues as loyal, hardworking and innovative, Okeke-Ozzoude sees herself as a transparent administrator and people-centred manager. She prides herself on being self-motivated, result-oriented and capable of thriving in diverse working environments. Her leadership style is anchored on accountability, openness and placing the interests of the Guild above personal considerations.
Okeke-Ozzoude’s agenda as National Secretary is both ambitious and practical. It includes the development of the AGN Abuja headquarters, creation of a standard contract format to protect actors, and the design of training and retraining programmes across all zones.
She also plans to promote an annual Actors Week to celebrate and elevate the acting profession, advocate for full insurance coverage for actors on set, and support efforts to improve remuneration across all categories of performers.
A major focus of Okeke-Ozzoude’s tenure will be strengthening data management and communication within the Guild. She intends to build a robust database for the industry and serve as a bridge between state chapters and the national body. She believes that effective communication and easy access to information, welfare services and registration processes will deepen members’ trust in the Guild.
Okeke-Ozzoude is also committed to consolidating ongoing reforms, particularly the AGN digital platform. To her, efforts will be intensified to ensure all members are fully registered on the app, making it easier for actors to access services, documentation and support.
Addressing misconceptions about AGN’s role, Okeke-Ozzoude clarified that the Guild is not an employer of labour, but a professional body established to protect the members. To her, producers provide jobs while AGN ensures that actors are protected, fairly treated and supported, especially in matters such as travel documentation, welfare and professional recognition.
With optimism and humility, Okeke-Ozzoude called on all stakeholders to unite and work collectively for the progress of the Guild.
“After the rain comes the sun,” she said, urging members to put aside their differences and focus on building a stronger, more united Actors Guild of Nigeria.
