•Zeb
Veteran Nigerian filmmaker and producer, Zebulon Ejiro, simply called Zeb Ejiro, is plus one today.
In November 2005, Zeb received a National award of Order of the Federal Republic alongside Lere Paimo in recognition of his immense contributions to the Nigerian film industry.
The dark-skinned Isoko, Delta State-born ace movie producer/director has been in the forefront of the nation’s motion picture industry from the days of television drama series to the advent of the movie industry popularly referred to as Nollywood.
As a friend of the House, Publisher/Editor-in-chief of The Frontier, Amb Sunny Okim a.k.a The Grandmaster, gave him the unique title of “The Sheikh of Nollywood” in the early days of the industry, due to his indelible role in positioning the industry and making stars and superstars. And that title, The Sheikh, has stuck till date.
Some of the blockbusters Zeb placed his magic fingers on are:
•Domitila (1996)
•Nneka the Pretty Serpent (1994)
•Mortal Inheritance (1996)
•Sakobi the snake girl (1998)
•A night in the Philippines (2005)
•Pure honey (2017)
•Merciful
•Extreme Measure (2003)
•Domitilla II
•Sakobi II: the final battle
•A night in the Philippines II
•Mortal sin, to mention but a few.
A colleague and frontline movie producer/director and media guru, Fidelis Duker, sums up the adventures of Sheikh Zeb Ejiro on his birthday in the following words:
Whenever the history of Nollywood is told, his name will always occupy a prominent place. It was based on his contribution to the development of the Nigeria motion picture industry that the federal government under the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that he was honored with the national honor of OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE NIGER (OON).
Today, I join several of my colleagues to celebrate one of my close friends, big brother, co-director of our company Smile AFRICA network and confidant. A creative director and producer with several blockbusters.
You will remember him with the glamorous TV soap Ripples in the 80’s to films like Fatal Desire, Mortal Inheritance, Fortunes, Amadioha, Domitila, Yellow Cassava amongst several others.
You cannot mention his name without linking names like Genevieve Nnaji who acted in Ripples as a little girl of 8 years or Omotola Jalade Ekeinde who got her big break with Mortal Inheritance in which he was the co producer with Andy Amenechi.
Names like Fred Amata, Zik Zulu Okafor, Victoria Inyama, Richard Mofe Damijo, Keppy Ekpenyong, Rosemary Ingbi, Chico Ejiro, Basorge Tariah, Kate Henshaw, Regina Askia, Paul obazele, Mike Nliam, Ndidi Obi, Susan Patrick, amongst several others in their thousands.
Hate or like him but what you can’t take away from him is his passion for the industry.
And looking back, virtually all the foundation guilds and associations, from Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, to Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, to Association of Movie Producers, AMP, were all established with his support which included providing the temporary secretariat for the aforementioned associations.
I will not end without telling my brother and friend that having put in over 36 years in this business, he must not relent in his contribution but must try and live above board with integrity and discipline so you can become the true ELDER I call you so that the young ones can tap from your experience and be a source of inspiration to them.
So you join me as we celebrate our own ZEBULON EJIRO, a distinguished Nigerian and an Officer of the Niger.
Happy birthday to the MAN with several names, titles, nicknames – Presido, Sheikh, Bishop, Olorogun. Enjoy your day Sir !
The entire crew of The Frontier wishes our brother and friend of the House many happy returns of the day, long life and prosperity. Hip hip hip! Hurray!!!
