Ambassador Dr Queen Blessing Ebigieson, the 8th National President of the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria and Chairman of the Federation of Registered Nollywood Guilds and Associations of Nigeria, has received an Award of Excellence from the University of Lagos Faculty of Arts, Department of European Languages and Integration Studies, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the promotion of the Russian language, education, and international cooperation.
The award was presented on 20th July 2026 during the 2026 Russian Day Celebration hosted by the department, which held under the theme Russian Language and Education: A Tool for International Cooperation. The event was organised by Dr. Joshua O. A. Orabiyi, Professor J. O. Faloju, and the departmental team.
Speaking during the ceremony, Ebigieson used her address to share a perspective on language, culture, and global connection that went beyond the conventional. She told attendees that language remains one of the strongest bridges between people, noting that when you speak someone’s language and share their food, people are quicker to accept you as one of their own. She was candid about her own journey, acknowledging that despite speaking seven Nigerian languages, she does not yet speak any international language, but argued that body language and eye contact are powerful starting points while one works toward learning the words.
She also spoke to the rapidly shifting role of language in global communication, pointing out that with translators and artificial intelligence advancing at speed, connecting across cultures is easier than it has ever been, and that no one in the creative or academic space can afford to be left behind. Her advice to students was direct: when you travel to study or work in another place, adapt. Learn the language, try the food, and respect the culture even when you do not fully agree with it, because that respect is what opens doors to both academic and professional excellence.
Ebigieson has spent the past three years building one of the most internationally active tenures in the history of the Association of Movie Producers. Since being sworn in as the 8th National President on 28th September 2024, she has represented Nollywood at the Cannes Film Festival as part of AFRIFF Goes to Cannes, led delegations to meet the Indian High Commission to explore Nollywood and Bollywood collaborations, and on 3rd July 2026 led a delegation to meet the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, at the Defence House in Abuja. She was also sworn in as Chairman of the Federation of Registered Nollywood Guilds and Associations of Nigeria on 7th March 2026, adding industry-wide leadership to her already significant portfolio. Beyond her industry roles, she is the founder of the Queen Blessing Foundation, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to empowering widows and supporting the less privileged, now in its 16th year of annual widows support programmes.
With a career spanning over 24 years, Ebigieson has featured in more than 80 film and television productions and produced several films through her production company BQ Productions International Limited.
