Opa Williams, the comedy merchant extraordinaire and movie/soap producer, will be the special guest at this month’s edition of O’jez Entertainment Forum holding in the evening of Sunday, September 27, 2009, at O’jez Entertainment Centre, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Chief Joseph Odobeatu, the honcho of O’jez, in a statement revealed that Opa Williams will on September 27 “dance to unlimited highlife music as a mark of honour to him because he truly deserves it.”
Williams, according to Odobeatu, is being honoured for his immense contributions to the growth and development of stand up comedy in the country. “Without mincing words, Opa Williams is unarguably the father of modern day stand up comedy. But for the revolution he began some 12 years ago, we would not have had the influx of comedians that are making people laugh on a daily basis now and making money. His comedy show, Nite of A Thousand Laughs is no doubt the biggest in the country at the moment, it is a periodic festival that people look forward to in all the major cities in Nigeria, Europe, South Africa and I heard he is going into America soon. In the movie industry where he began his artistic career, Williams has left his mark there too because he is among the few filmmakers that make didactic films. His television programmes are second to none, so tell me, why shouldn’t a man like that be celebrated? O’jez Entertainment Forum, the
event that holds every last Sunday of the month, celebrates excellence and people that have distinguished themselves in their individual fields of endeavours, Opa Williams has, that is why we have decided to honour him next Sunday,” Odobeatu said.
As usual, O’jez Band and the Evergreen Band, will be on hand to entertain the expected large crowd at the evening event that will be attended by Nollywood stars, music icons as well as elders in the entertainment industry such as veteran broadcaster Ambassador Segun Olusola, Chief Femi Esho among others. The compere is ace comedian Mr. Patrick while president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria; Ejike Asiegbu will read Williams’ citation. “It is going to be an evening of highlife music, comedy, dance and unlimited fun as the nation gathers at O’jez on Sunday, September 27 to celebrate one of its distinguished sons”, Odobeatu submitted.
Meanwhile, in another development, Pay TV Company HiTV, is partnering Opa Williams’s forthcoming comedy show tagged: Nite of A Thousand Laughs, holding at the MUSON Centre, Lagos on October 1. The annual show is usually part of activities marking the nation’s independence anniversary. Mr. Justin Akpovi-Esade, HiTV’s Public Relations Manager in a signed statement said the company agreed to be Nite of A Thousand Laughs media partners because “the two brands are proudly Nigerian products and such a marriage is good for the nation. HiTV began a revolution some two years ago that broke the myth that Pay TV is for the rich only. Nigerians irrespective of their status, since HiTV came unto the satellite TV scene, can watch Pay TV in their homes and pay a monthly subscription that will not make them rob a bank; Nite of A Thousand Laughs over a decade ago began a revolution that has popularized stand up comedy and has given young Nigerians a lucrative
means of livelihood. The
creator Opa Williams has given birth and nurtured a brand, just like HiTV, that is going places. So for us, we are proud to be Nite of A Thousand Laughs’ media partners and we are happy to be part of a growth process. I am sure Williams chose HiTV from among other Pay TV outfits because of our uniqueness and people friendly nature”
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