Ayo Oyebade is a big player in UK Nollywood.A few days ago he told Citypeople his success story.” I am an Accountant. However, I am fortunate to be an Actor and Filmmaker, in UK.Nollywood.
My accountancy work includes: Film Production Finance – Budgeting, Cash Flow Forecast, Finance Plan and Film Production Accounting.
I am more comfortable in the background. I’m also heavily involved in the Community, as a Rotarian and a former Finance Secretary of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK.”
“As an Accountant, I see challenges in having a sustained career in the movie industry. I’m not so hung up on acting, but passionate about getting it right. There isn’t just one correct way of getting a film done and distributed, but there is a pattern that makes it smoother.”
“UK Nollywood has challenges with raising finance and most of my colleagues use their savings and their hard earned cash to make films. This usually leaves very little Finance for marketing and distribution. It’s remarkable that we are able to have joint ventures with Nigeria and this makes distribution less fraught.
” My wife, HRH Theodora Ibekwe-Oyebade, made a movie called Shameful Deceit, which people still talk about despite the limited distribution. We have not managed to get the film shown in Nigerian cinemas but it has been seen around the world and won numerous awards. Its very stressful not having Film Investors though. I have put together many film budgets, however, the Producers have found it difficult to raise the Finance even with Sales Forecast from around the world compiled by Sales Agents and having distributors in place.”
What is his background like?
“I was born in the UK and moved to Nigeria just after the Civil War. First school was Surulere Baptist School ,but finished primary education at Lara Day, Ikeja. I went to boarding school, Government College Ketu, tough years! I came back to the UK, where I studied Accountancy.
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