Actor's Guild: Jo Esse dissolves committees, reveals Cross River State made Eve Esin, Bishop Imeh AKA Okon Lagos, Stephanie Okereke and other top nollywood Actors.

Actor's Guild: Jo Esse dissolves  committees, reveals Cross River State made Eve Esin, Bishop Imeh AKA Okon Lagos, Stephanie Okereke and other top nollywood Actors.

By Marvelous Eyo
Coneri Magazine

The Chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Cross River State chapter Comrade Ambassador Jo Esse has revealed that top nollywood Actors such as Stephanie Linus, Eve Esin, Bishop Imeh AKA Okon Lagos and others got to the limelight through the help of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Cross River chapter. The chairman made this revelation during the monthly meeting of the guild held on 30th of January 2020 at the cultural Centre, calabar.

The meeting which started a bit late began with the chairman apologising for the absence of the Guild's Vice Chairman, Comrade Queen Zoey Ansa, Financial Secretary and also the inability to start on  time.

The meeting began proper with opening prayer led by comrade Maureen Ekpenyong after the agenda has been adopted.

 Thereafter, the incumbent chairman of the Chapter, Comrade Esse began his opening speech by introducing some  stakeholders of the guild such as the former CRS vice chairman comrade Hon. Onah Sunday Owoche, former CRS chairperson  Comrade Maureen Ekpenyong, the new national appointees of the guild: Former CRS Task force chairman,  Comrade Williamson Efa who has been appointed the National Vice chairman of the task force and former SA to  the CRS chairman on media comrade Eriacy Confidence Oba who has also been appointed the lead SA on Media to the National president as well as the CEO of Coneri magazine, the official media partner of the guild in the state.

He went further to stress the need for members to be guilded as well as fill contract forms before accepting to work on any set to avoid being exploited by some producers. The chairman also specially recognised  Ambassador Ogar Osim, a reputable filmmaker and Comrade Beatrice Akonjom, Personal Assistant to former Cross River Governor Senator Liyel Imoke. He further stated that the president of the guild, Comrade Ambassador Ejezie Emeka Rollas is  making efforts to make sure that the Nollywood industry is given more recognitions globally. He said the president traveled to several countries including the US  and the UK where he was able to register AGN with Pinewood of Britain. He mentioned some movies that will be produced this year to include a collaboration with the Nigerian military which he revealed has been  approved and endorsed by the Chief of Army staff and to be funded by the Nigerian Army. Comrade Esse said President Rollas has included Calabar as one of the locations to be used for a movie to be shot in some major countries in Africa and some local actors and actresses are to be chosen from AGN Cross River State Chapter as promised by the President.

The chairman informed members of the guild of the upcoming solemn assembly and production by the palace of the Obong of Calabar in collaboration with Heritage Entertainment as well as Miss Southern Nigeria Beauty pageant and southern Nigeria Achievers Award organized by Coneri Magazine urging members to participate  in all activities as well as pray for the unity of the guild.

He went ahead to dissolve all the committees except Coneri Magazine which is the official media partner of the guild and called for nominations and a mini election took place with Comrade Asu Franklin emerging the new task force chairman of the state beating Benita Ogar and Victoria Oku with 40:6:4 votes.

The state secretary of the guild, Comrade Ekpedem Moses read the minutes of the previous meeting which was held on the 18th November,2019 at cultural center to the house and matters arising were addressed.

In his speech, The former State Tax Force chairman comrade Williamson Effa AKA Sasha Lokome said that some illegal productions with non registered AGN members were carried out in Ugep with fake identifications given which he made sure the culprits were brought to book. He appealed to members to report illegal productions to the guild to assist his office perform optimally. He went further to express his aggrievances on the way non registered actors and actresses are casted in movies and getting paid while registered members starve due to such activities. He frowned at registered members doing free jobs and allowing producers and celebrities to use them. He promised to bring offenders to book.

Also speaking, a former two time chairman of the guild in the state, Nkese Ignis observed that half of the people that turned up for audition the previous day were not present in the meeting even though the meeting seemed to be one of the most attended. She  expressed disappointment in the manner members now conduct themselves concerning the guild stressing that it wasnt so in the good old days. The Abuja based whose record has not been broken as the only two tenure chairman in the state appealed to Comrade Jo Esse Led CRS AGN to collaborate with the theater Arts department of the university of Calabar and the cultural Centre to train members on stage acting to enable them improve on their craft on screen.

Comrade Maureen Ekpenyong in contributing to the way forward for the guild, advised members to do more work and less talk. She frowned at the bring down attitudes by some members of the guild insisting that such attitude will not bring anyone to the limelight.

The treasurer was given an opportunity to address the guild in which he pointed out that registration, revalidation and monthly dues of members occupied deliberations in the last meeting. He reminded members that registration of new and intending members into the Guild is still 18,000  revalidation 3,500 and annual dues is 2500.  Members were urged to make these payments to the National Account. He informed members that no identification cards will be issued to those that haven't paid their dues yet.

Highlight of the meeting was refreshment by members. The Chairperson of the AGN CRS Fitness Walk and Personal Assistant to Gov Liyel Imoke, Comrade Beatrice Akonjom gave the guild a new year package while appealing to members to turn up for fitness walk the next day.

Announcements were made. Adjournment moved by Comrade Abasekong Iteta and seconded by Comr Joy Asuquo and the meeting officially came to a close  by 6:30 PM Nigerian Time with closing prayers taken by the PRO, Comrade Staro Eno.

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