Nigerian movie stars, Alex Ekubo, Yomi Fabiyi, and Toyin Aihmakhu, topped the winners’ list at the Best of Nollywood Awards held at at El-Dorda event center, Aba, Abia State recently.

Hosted by ace comedian, Okey Bakassi, and actress, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry, the awards aimed at acknowledging the resilience of Nigerian filmmakers amidst the economic recession.

According to ceoafrica, the high point of the star-studded ceremony was when three Nollywood veterans, Chief Zebrudaya, Sola Sobowale and Fidelis Duker were rewarded for their giant strides and contributions to the Nigerian movie industry.

According to the organisers, aside from the 31 keenly contested categories at the annual BON Awards, the ‘Special Recognition’ category rewards the commitment and contributions of several individuals in their field as well as in Nollywood.

In his welcome address, the CEO of BON, Seun Oloketuyi, said, “The creative industry is a fertile ground for governments and investors to sow in Nigeria, more especially in the period that our nation gravely needs to diversify. This jury hopes that our state governments especially will look at ways to raise the revenue profile of their states by investing in this industry.

“This award ceremony specifically aims at promoting the Nigerian cultural essence in movie making. This is why emphasis is placed on movies that are produced in the indigenous languages. As we said last year , we hope that more producers will come forward and venture into film in our some other languages than Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.”

BEST OF NOLLYWOOD 2016 WINNERS LIST goes thus:Best Actor in Leading Role (English)Alexx Ekubo in The First Lady, Best Actor in Leading Role (Yoruba), Yomi Fabiyi in Metomi, Best Actress in Leading Role (Yoruba)Toyin Aimakhu in Metomi.

Also in the list are Best Actor in Leading Role (Hausa): Sadiq Dan Sadiq in Mat Da Lado, Best Actor in Leading Role (Igbo): Bloosom Chukwujeku in Icheke Oku, Best Actress in Leading Role (English): Judith Audu in Just Not Married, Best Actress in Leading Role (Igbo): Nichole Banna in Icheke Oku, Best Actress in Leading Role (Hausa): Jamila Umar in Kasata, Best Supporting Actor (English): Gabriel Afolayan in Something Wicked, Best Supporting Actress (English): Adesua Etomi, Ivie Okujaye-Egbon, Beverly Naya in Something Wicked.

Not left out of the list are Most Promising Actor:  Rotimi Salami in Just Not Married, Most Promising Actress: Ade Laoye in Studio, Best Child Actor in Movie: Daniel Udah in Opeyemi, Best Child Actress: Angel Unigwe in Woeman, Best Comedy of the Year: Ghana Must Go, Movie with the Best Social Message: Woeman, Movie with the Best Special Effect: A Soldier’s Story, Movie with the Best Screenplay: Something Wicked, Best Short Film of the Year: Opeyemi, Best Documentary of the Year: Amaka’s kin.

The list also includes, best TV Series of the Year:  Lasgidi cops (SCU), Movie with the Best Editing : Hire A man, Movie with the Best Sound Track: Icheke Oku, Movie with the Best Production Design: Hire A Man, Movie with the Best Cinematography: A Soldier’s Story,

Moreover the list also captured, best Use of Nigerian Costume in a Movie: Yeye Oge, Best Use of Make up in a Movie: A Soldier’s story, Movie of the Year: Something Wicked, Director of the Year: Yemi Morafa for Something Wicked, Best Kiss in a Movie: Omowumi Dada and Gabriel Afolayan in Something Wicked, Revelation of the Year (female): Bukky Adeeyo, Revelation of the year (Male): Shawn Jimoh.