The Abia International Film Festival has announced the appointment of veteran Nollywood actor and former President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, as its Executive Director. The announcement was made officially by the festival, which is led by President Dr. Philips Alexander Elekwa and Vice President Chief Chinedu Ikedieze.
Ejike Asiegbu is one of the most recognisable faces in the history of Nigerian film and television. The Abia State-born actor has been in the industry for more than four decades, with over 250 Nigerian films to his credit. He played Basi’s father in the classic comedy series Basi and Company, portrayed the late Jegede Shokoya’s brother in New Masquerade, appeared in late Amaka Igwe’s Checkmate as a lecturer, featured in MNET’s Glass House series, and took part in Jade Suberu’s Christmas in Lagos. He also appeared in Uzor Amadi’s old Anambra State ABS soap opera Beyond the Realms at Enugu and NTA-rested Nifetep Productions at Enugu. His film credits include Oscar Hemen-Acker’s Finding Messiah, a blockbuster that continues to inspire audiences with its powerful storytelling and outstanding performances.
Beyond acting, Asiegbu has built a significant footprint in industry leadership and humanitarian work. He served as President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, served as a Board Member of the Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria, and was a Personal Assistant to Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt and is the founder of the Actors Charity Foundation, a platform he established to ensure that the influence of Nollywood becomes a permanent force for positive change in Nigeria and beyond. He is also a founder and leader in cultural activism, media consultancy, motivational speaking, documentary filmmaking, human rights, and good governance advocacy.
The Abia International Film Festival was launched in June 2024 and made a powerful debut with its inaugural edition held from 20th to 22nd December 2024 in Umuahia, Abia State. Building on that success, ABIFF 2025 recorded over 1,243 film submissions from filmmakers across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, positioning the festival as one of the fastest-growing film platforms in West Africa.
Asiegbu has been vocal about the vision behind the festival, expressing that the insecurity and infrastructural decay that previously discouraged movie production in Aba have been effectively addressed by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, and that filmmakers are now ready to contribute their expertise towards taking the state to greater heights. He has also stated his optimism that Abia State will soon become the new face of the Nigerian film industry, and that discussions have already commenced with international partners to ensure that subsequent editions of the festival will be bigger.
