Ibinabo Fiberesima, actress, entertainer, first female President and the 7th National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, says she is a destiny Child.
She stated this on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at her GRA residence in Port Harcourt as friends gathered to congratulate her for winning the just concluded AGN election as president.
The beautiful actress who was Miss Wonderland, 1990, First Runner-Up, Miss Nigeria, 1991, Second Runner-Up, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, 1992, won with 97 votes, as against her two other contestants, Emeka Rollas and Steve Eboh who got 86 votes and 10 votes respectively. They have since congratulated her.
Ibinabo who was the immediate past chairman of AGN, Rivers State, said she decided to go for the position when it was declared open last year because she has something to give.
“I used to be the Rivers State chairman of AGN, so when the position was declared open, I said I have something for it. I felt discouraged by my people and a lot of people actually, but I believed in what I have to give and I gave it a shot.” She stated.
Her father, Dr. John Fiberesima is from Okrika in Okrika local government area of Rivers State, while her mother Paulina, is from Ireland.
Commending on encomiums poured on her by Steve Eboh as a generous person, she said, “I grew up with a loving grandmother that used to just give and give and never stops giving. That instilled it in me.”
As a priority, she said she would ensure a secretariat for the AGN at Abuja and would stretch her hands out to give life to all the state chapters of the Guild. She would also institute an inter-state cultural and sports competition to catch the young ones and ensure health and insurance plan for the actors.
Ibinabo disclosed that Mr. Oronto Douglas explained to her a new deal known as “You Win” project where actors and actresses would get grants of N1m to N20m, depending on the project, instead of going through the rigorous process of the loan promised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
She also disclosed that the female entertainers have their own share of the grant as well as the male entertainers.
On alleged waywardness of actors and actresses, the former beauty queen said, “Anybody that wants to be wayward will be wayward. A lot of things are not right in Nollywood. A lot of things need to be corrected. Yes, I will say there is a lot of waywardness in our Nollywood today because I know of a lot of girls that actually pay producers to be on set, to act a film or just to be on the poster and I have been trying to figure that out, why it is like that.. But I think it is just the type of orientation they had. So I am hoping now that I am a woman at the helm of affairs, they will look at me and I hope I am an inspiration to most of them because I went through a phase in my life that everybody thought it was over for me. But I am here and I am being celebrated. So I am hoping that will be an inspiration story for the younger generation, younger women, to believe in themselves. Waywardness is just not it.”
To curb waywardness, she said she would start an orientation, workshops and seminars.
“I will do a lot of talking about my own life because I think I am a destiny child. So I will talk about myself and what I have been through because some people just think it is over for them, but they have not even started. I will do a lot of counseling,” she said
On actors remunerations, she said it would be straightened out as the three guilds, the Directors Guild of Nigeria, DCN, Association of Movie Producers, AMP and the AGN now speak with one voice.
She advised all to believe in themselves “Believe in yourselves. I was told I would never lead the Guild because I am a woman and I thank God today I am where I am. I will stretch a hand and everyone, especially, our early stars, should lend a hand to the younger ones and guide them.”
Speaking to The Newswriter, Lexie M, immediate past chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Rivers State, said Ibinabo has the zeal and would deliver.
He said she has passion and would use it to enhance her leadership. “She should not be distracted and I hope that the entire AGN will work together with her in unity. My advice for her is to stay focused and not be distracted and leave a legacy,” he added.
On his part, Monima Wenike Harry, Chairman, AGN Rivers State, said it was because of her dynamic charisma that she was encouraged to go for the national position.
“Rivers State Nollywood decided to support her because we have a lot to gain from her leadership. We are behind her and our advice is keep all grudges aside. We need her administrative capacity to keep the Guild in this state moving forward. At the national level, we want to see how she can transform the Guild and keep it going,” he stated.
Michael Udochukwu Ibawuchi, the National Campaign Manager for Ibinabo’s election said, “Who the cap fits, let him wear it. The cap fits Ibinabo, having been the immediate past chairman of the Guild in Rivers State.”
He said despite challenges, she was able to manage the position till the end of her tenure and that with her experience; she was going to do more.
“My candid advice for her is to keep up the good spirit, that spirit of oneness as the detribalized individual that she is. I am Ibo. Ibinabo has come out to make history,” he added.
The election which was held on September 27, 2012, took place in 30 states of the federation and the result was announced on the 28th.
Earlier, Steve Eboh has told Ibinabo, “The election was free, fair and transparent,” adding, “I went to all the states campaigning. I discovered that 98% of actors are hungry and jobless. The only thing you can do to make me forget the money spent during the election is to make the chapters come alive again.” ####
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