Zimbabwe Based Nigerian, Oketex To Injects Fund Into Nollywood

By Lucky Onoriode George in Harare

With the Nigerian movie industry [Nollywood] going through some hard times, succor seems to be coming the way of some of the industry super star as a Nigerian businessman based in Harare, Zimbabwe is willing to inject millions of American dollars of investment into the sector.

Mr. Amarachi George, managing director of Oketex Entertainment made this known in an exclusive interview with www.travelafricanews.com in Harare, Zimbabwe penultimate week during the visit of one of Nollywood best known face Patience Annie Ozokwo on the invitation of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority [ZTA].

The film being bank rolled by Oketex Investment is part of the tourism agency rebranding efforts of the tourism sector in Zimbabwe.

Mai Azuka as she is popularly called in Zimbabwe, Patience Ozokwo known back home in Nigeria as Mama Gee was a week long trip as part of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s popular Celebrity Host Programme.

While in Zimbabwe, Mama Gee graced the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair held in Bulawayo, welcomed President Robert Mugabe into Rainbow Hotel, venue of international press briefing by the Zimbabwe president and his visiting Zambia counterpart accompanied by his wife where he was briefed of the movie project being worked on by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority that will feature some Nigerian movie stars and their Zimbabwe colleagues titled “The Zimbabwe I Know”.

A day after arriving Harare from Bulawayo, Mai Azuka travelled to Zim main tourism region of Victoria Falls where she tour the falls, went on cruise of Zambezi River, so adventurous that she also went on elephant ride and walked with the lion, an exercise for the strong hearted tourists.

On return to Harare and due to popular demand, a concert dubbed “Mai Azuka In Concert” was put together for her teaming fans across Harare to meet her and possibly for photo session.

The concert, which began at about 9 pm local time shortly after Mai Azuka walked into rapturous reception and accompanied by Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Walter Nzembi, Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Venessa Sibanda, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Zwizwai Murisi, Senator Herbert Murerwa and Zimbabwe talk show hostess Rebecca Chisamba among other dignitaries.

The minister who spoke warmly of Patience Annie Ozokwo praised the initiator of the “Celebrity Host Programme” Mr. Karigoke Kaseke, Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and urged Mama Azuka to spread the message of Zimbabwe’s hospitality on her return home to Nigeria.

Mai Azuka as she is popularly called responded to questions from her fans that ranged from her marital status to her career as an actress per excellence.

Earlier, Patience Annie Ozokwo along side Lucky Onoriode George of Tourism Today Communications, managing director of Oketex Entertainment paid a courtesy call on the Nigerian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Kunle Adeyanju who thanked the Nollywood star for coming to Zimbabwe as well as making Nigeria and Nigerians proud.

Ambassador Kunle pledged the continuous Nigeria support to Zimbabwe and its movie industry, which he said Zimbabwe actors/actress and the movie industry stands to benefits from.

The highlight of the visit to the Nigerian House was a lunch organized by the Nigerian Ambassador at his residence that had in attendance the high commission’s friends, the Nigerian communities, staff of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Zimbabwe Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Media to sumptuous Nigerian delicacies.

Top Nigerian stars penciled down to feature along side their Zimbabwe colleagues in the movie “ The Zimbabwe I know” are Patience Annie Ozokwo, Ejike Asiegbu, Chinedu Ikedieze and Uche Jumbo among others.

“After “The Zimbabwe I Know” project, Oketex will also immediately embark on the shooting of three other movies in Zimbabwe, Ghana and Nigeria” Oketex boss said.