THREE NIGERIAN DIPLOMATS, INTERNATIONAL DIGNITARIES AND RECORD CROWD MAKE NOLLYWOOD EUROPE GOLDEN AWARDS 2026 THE BIGGEST IN FESTIVAL HISTORY

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Ehizoya Diary:

The Grand Finale of the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NEGA) Gala Night, held on Saturday, 1 August 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany, concluded in spectacular fashion with what many guests and industry stakeholders described as the biggest and most successful Nollywood event ever organized by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V.

The prestigious Gala Night held Saray Turkuaz Hall attracted an unprecedented turnout of Nollywood enthusiasts, filmmakers, diplomats, cultural stakeholders, business leaders and distinguished guests from across Europe. Fans travelled from the United Kingdom, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and several cities across Germany, including Berlin, Bremen, Munich, Hamburg and Hannover, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrated African cinema, culture and excellence.

A historic highlight of the evening was the attendance of three senior Nigerian diplomats, making it one of the rare occasions in the history of the festival that such high-level Nigerian diplomatic representation was witnessed at a Nollywood event in Europe. The distinguished diplomats included His Excellency, Ambassador Senator Ita Enang, LL.D, OFR, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany; Wahab Akande, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland; and Dr. Yakubu Audu Dadu, Consul General of Nigeria in Frankfurt.

The star-studded Gala Night also brought together an impressive array of distinguished guests, government officials, community leaders, entertainers and cultural ambassadors from across Europe and Nigeria. Among those in attendance were Hon. Osifo Omorede, Special Adviser on Women Mobilization and former Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism; Iryn Omorogiuwa, Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy; Dr. Moses Kolade Ogun, the President of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation NIDO-Germany; Dr. Balogun, Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association; former Super Eagles Assistant Head Coach Mr. Benjamin James; Netherlands-based entertainer Skimmy Yah; Belgium-based recording artist Dede Kay; members of the UK-based AGM delegation; the Unique Essex Ladies from the United Kingdom; Manchester-based philanthropist Mr. Kate Onomeregwa; the Finnish delegation led by Austin Ediale; and the Irish delegation under the leadership of Pastor Edith Agbonhese.

Their presence, together with hundreds of Nollywood supporters from across Europe, highlighted the growing international importance of the Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NEGA) as platforms for cultural exchange, diaspora unity, and celebrating excellence in African cinema and the creative industries.

One of the major highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards, recognizing outstanding personalities for their remarkable contributions to the creative industry, diplomacy and humanitarian service.

Among the distinguished award recipients were:

1. Rosabelle Jeanne Andrews Iyafokhai – Nollywood Excellence Award
2. Bob-Manuel Udokwu – Golden Legacy Award
3. Nosa Rex Okunzuwa – Trailblazer / Entrepreneur in Cinema Award
4. Hon. Christopher Okaeben, Honourable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Edo State – Creative Economy Leadership Award
5. High Chief Sir (Dr.) Ambassador Anthony Ikenna Obele – Uncommon Philanthropist Award

The organizers also thrilled guests with three surprise presentations that had not been announced in the official programme.

Renowned journalist and publisher Stella Dimoko Korkus was caught completely by surprise when she was invited on stage to receive the Nollywood Media Icon Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to entertainment journalism and the promotion of Nollywood worldwide.

Another emotional moment followed when His Excellency Ambassador CG, Dr. Yakubu Audu Dadu was unexpectedly honoured with the prestigious Diplomatic Icon Award Citation for his exceptional support for Nigerian cultural diplomacy and the creative industry in Germany.

Guests were further treated to an electrifying surprise musical performance by popular Afrobeat star Anyidons, whose appearance brought the audience to its feet and added another unforgettable highlight to the memorable evening.

Benin based Bro Destiny thrilled the crowd with his album “E-Choke” that sent his fans going wild.

In his earlier welcome address, the Festival Director and Cultural Ambassador, Isaac Izoya, expressed profound appreciation to everyone who travelled from different countries despite the current global economic challenges.

“We sincerely thank everyone for taking the time to be here despite the economic hardship. Twenty-four years ago, we embarked on this journey as a platform to promote Nigeria’s positive image through arts, culture and cinema. Looking back in retrospect today, we can proudly say we are making meaningful progress.”

He paid special tribute to the three Nigerian Ambassadors for honouring the invitation and commended the visiting Nollywood stars, cultural ambassadors, supporters and volunteers for their commitment to the festival. He also acknowledged the presence of Hon. Christopher Okaeben and his Permanent Secretary Iryn Omorogiuwa from Benin City for supporting the vision of promoting Nigeria’s creative economy on the international stage through their presence.

In his keynote remarks, Senator Ita Enang, Nigeria’s newly appointed Ambassador to Germany, commended Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V. for its unwavering commitment to promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and positive image through the Nollywood Film Festival Germany and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards.

Describing the initiative as one that aligns with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s agenda of strengthening cultural diplomacy and projecting the country’s creative economy on the global stage, Ambassador Enang praised the organisers for sustaining the festival for an impressive 24 consecutive years.

“Twenty-four years of consistency is an extraordinary achievement that deserves national recognition,” he said. “As Ambassador, I will lend my full support to this initiative and recommend that it receives the national recognition and increased sponsorship it deserves to enable an even bigger and more impactful festival in the future.”

He assured the organisers and members of the Nigerian community that his office would remain open to initiatives that promote Nigeria’s image abroad, adding, “I am here to serve, and I am ready to support everyone who is genuinely working to project our nation in a positive light in this part of the world.”

The organisers described the overwhelming attendance and enthusiastic participation from across Europe as a clear indication that the Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NEGA) have continued to grow into one of Europe’s foremost platforms for celebrating African cinema, cultural diplomacy and international networking.

The international appeal of the festival was reflected in the reactions of guests who travelled from across Europe to attend the event.

Speaking shortly after returning safely to the United Kingdom, Dr. Debsandy, a member of the UK-based AGM delegation, called Festival Director Isaac Izoya to express his amazement at the unprecedented turnout.

“Mr. Izoya, how did you manage to attract such a massive crowd from so many countries to Frankfurt? Almost everyone I spoke to in the hall gave me the same answer: ‘I’m not from here.’ I kept looking for people who actually lived in Frankfurt, but I could hardly find any. It was incredible.”

Responding with gratitude, Isaac Izoya attributed the remarkable attendance to 24 years of consistency, dedication and an unwavering commitment to promoting Nollywood and African culture in Europe.

Similarly, Austin Ediale, who led the Finnish delegation to the festival, described the experience as unforgettable.

“This was my first time attending the Nollywood Film Festival Germany and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards, and it certainly won’t be my last. I’ll start saving for next year’s edition immediately. It was an amazing experience, not just the entertainment, but also the opportunity to network with people from different countries. Your team delivered a fantastic show, brother. Kudos to you, Mr. Izoya.”

Their testimonials echoed the sentiments of many participants, further reinforcing the festival’s growing reputation as one of Europe’s leading platforms for celebrating Nollywood, African culture and international networking.

As the curtains fell on the 2026 edition, guests departed with lasting memories of an evening filled with glamour, recognition, entertainment and international friendship, while many described it as “Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V.’s best Nollywood show ever.”

The Show Must Go On!