The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), African Movie Academy Awards, (AMAA), Peace Anyiam-Osigwe is filled with sadness, as she mourns the death of ace female producer, Amaka Igwe. She is not the only person feeling the bitterness associated with this loss, as the president of Association of Nollywood Core Producer (ANCOP)/Vice President, International Federation of Film Producers Associations, FIAPF), Alex Eyengho has expressed his sad feelings over Mrs Igwe’s death.

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe wrote:


"I received with sadness this morning the news of the passing away of my big sister and Nollywood Icon, Mrs. Amaka Igwe (MFR). I was preparing to attend the official launch of The Cable online Newspapers on the invitation of Mr. Simon Kolawole, the former Editor of Thisday Newspaper when this sad news hit me like I tornado.

"I was in total shock and lost my mental balance. It took me time to recover from the sad reality that our own Auntie Amaka is gone while in Enugu in preparation for a movie project. The motion picture industry in Nigeria and Africa will sorely miss this revolutionary who raised the bar of professionalism and artistic excellence early in Nollywood when it was not fashionable.

"Amaka Igwe gave herself and applied herself to producing films and soaps that are pacesetters. She was a creative entrepreneur of outstanding qualities who came, saw and conquered in her 51 years of existence on earth. Amaka Igwe worked with us as a Jury member of the Africa Movie Academy Awards at the early stage of the awards and her contributions were far-reaching and rewarding.

"On behalf of management and staff of AMAA I extend my heartfelt condolence to her husband, Mr. Charles Igwe, the children, her immediate and extended family members and loved ones. May God continue to stay with the family in this very moment and always.

"May God rest the soul of our departed heroine of Nollywood."
On the other hand, Comrade Eyengho expressed his sadnees saying, "Why should the great Amaka Igwe bow to death now? A substantial part of Nollywood and the African motion picture industry is dead with her sudden demise. She was indeed the Duchess of Nollywood. 

"She never did any business outside Nollywood and the Nigerian entertainment industry generally. She gave the industry her all.  As Madam Chair of the Nigerian Entertainment Business Group (NEBG), she worked tirelessly to reposition the industry. 

"It will be hard for any female Nollywood practitioner to step into the big shoe Amaka has left behind. Her departure is a colossal loss not just to her family but to Nollywood, the entire Nigerian entertainment industry and Nigeria as a nation. She must be deservedly mourned along these strata."

Alex Eyengho
(President, Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP and Vice President, International Federation of Film Producers Associations, FIAPF).