Nigeria’s Nollywood legend, Anayo Modestus Onyekwere (MFR), popularly known as Kanayo. O. Kanayo has been honoured with National Daily Newspaper Nigeria’s entertainment Icon of the Decade.
The event tagged: “National Daily Award of Excellence” was held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos on May 12, 2023, under the chairmanship of Prince Julius Adelusi Founder of Juli Pharmacy while former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was a Special Guest of honour delivered the keynote address.
Kanayo O. Kanayo started as a guest artiste in NTA Enugu drama series after graduating from the University. He joined Nollywood in 1982 out of a pure desire to bring smiles to people’s faces, going on to star in the movie ‘Living in Bondage‘ as ‘Chief Omego‘.
The movie brought Nollywood and, by extension, him into the limelight. In 2017, in collaboration with Globacom Communication company, he became involved in the seasonal TV programme, ‘Professor Johnbull‘, where he plays The Professor.
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Since Kanayo O. Kanayo came into the industry, he has starred in over 250 Nollywood movies including, ‘Circles of Doom‘, ‘Nneka‘, ‘Billionaires Club‘, ‘Rituals‘, ‘Tears for Love‘, ‘Living in Bondage‘, ‘The Coven‘ and ‘Blood Money.’
CEO and Editor-In-Chief of National Daily, Sylvester Ebhodage said the contributions of Kanayo .O. Kanayo to the growth of Nigeria’s entertainment industry cannot be over emphasized.
“At National Daily newspapers, we believe that the best way to produce men and women who still believe in this great country, and are willing to give everything to make it work, is to recognize, and encourage them to continue doing the good things they do, while we urge others to emulate them.
“While we use the opportunity to show appreciation to many top public figures and top dignitaries in the country whose gestures have been worthy of emulation and whose actions over the years, and most especially within the period under review, have contributed in one way or another in uplifting humanity.
“We also take a route not common, in recognizing some people who think their contributions go unnoticed because they do not make front page news, neither are they well known and celebrated. But we made efforts to identify them, and want to use this opportunity to say thank you for all you are doing,” he added.