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Renowned Nollywood director and screenwriter Reginald Ebere has died.
The award-winning filmmaker passed away on Sunday.
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The national secretary of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Perekeme Odon, confirmed his death.
The industry is deeply mourning this loss. “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our dear brother and colleague, Mr. Reginald Ebere,” Odon said in his announcement.
The publicity-shy filmmaker, famous for writing the script for the 1999 Nollywood blockbuster Issakaba, was bedridden and off the radar for six years due to health issues.
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In 2018, he collapsed on the set of a movie in Enugu and suffered a stroke twice.
Not much was known about him until January, when actor Sam Dede requested financial support to help with the filmmaker’s medical bills and upkeep.
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The actor said: “Reginald Ebere wrote the first script for Issakaba and, by the way, I changed the name of the main character to Ebube. Today, Reginald Ebere is bedridden. He suffered a stroke twice but was a very tenacious person. He keeps going but in bad shape; If you live by that concept of truth and justice, let us find a way to support Reginald Ebere.” If there is anything I can do to support you, please look for me to help you.”
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His colleague Lancelot Imasuen made a similar call at the filming of the return of Issakaba’s remake.
Lancelot immediately organized a fundraiser on set and many of his colleagues donated money to the actor.
Profile of Reginald Ebere
The late Reginald was a theater arts graduate from the University of Jos, founder of The Script Factory and channel director and head of production at the Infinity TV platform.
He was married to Maureen Ebere and they have three children.
His film journey began when he resigned from the famous Hints magazine which was published by Emmanuel Kachikwu, former CEO of NNPC group.
He was commissioned to write ‘When the Sun Sets’ and was assistant director of the project. This experience helped him break into the industry.
He is credited with launching the acting career of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde with the film Venom Of Justice, released in 1990. He is also credited with launching the careers of Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Bob Manuel-Udokwu.
The Nollywood veteran was also a pastor at Christ Embassy.
His production credits include ‘Last Burial’, ‘One God, One Nation’, ‘The God to Serve’, ‘Message’, ‘Unwanted’, ‘Last Affair’, ‘Tom and Jerry’ and ‘Venom of Justice’.
The late filmmaker was also a published poet and author of Boundaries of Heaven, a collection of poems that served as a metaphor for Nigeria.
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