Producer, scriptwriter and cinematographer Victor Okhai has emerged as the new president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), replacing Fred Amata.
Okhai emerged winner in the election conducted at the DGN Secretariat, Surulere on Sunday after gaining 110 of the 159 votes from members of the guild across the country and in the diaspora, defeating the likes of Kehinde Soaga, MacCollins Chidebe and Yinka Akanbi.
While addressing members of the guild after being declared the winner on Sunday night, Okhai promised to restructure the movie industry and also restore the dignity of the guild.
“The truth is the director, who is in the hierarchy of the production chain, is first among equals. The state of the director in Nigeria today needs so much to be desired.
“We are not only going to bring back and refocus the vision that we had initially, but we will restore the dignity of the director not just in Nigeria but in the continent,” he said.
In his remarks, Amata urged members of the guild and stakeholders in the entertainment industry to support the new president in taking the industry to a new level.
The DGN election took place in six zones which are Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Asaba, Benin, and Port Harcourt, while some votes came from the diaspora.
Contestants for other executive posts of the guild were, however, elected unopposed after gaining more than two-third of the overall votes.
They are Tony Akposheri (vice president), Uchenna Agbo (national secretary), Osita Okoli (director of finance) and Perekeme Odon (public relations officer).
Others are Prince Isaac Kolawole (welfare/social officer) and Dan Chukwueze (provost).
