Uduak Isong
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Uduak Isong Oguamanam is a Nigerian
Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...
scriptwriter, producer and entrepreneur based in
Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...
, Nigeria. She is best known for the comedy films ''Okon Lago''s (2011) and its sequel ''Okon Goes To School'' (2013), ''Lost In London'' (2017), and ''Desperate Housegirls'' (2015). ''Falling'' (film) (2015) is Isong Oguamanam's first film under her own production company, Closer Pictures, based in
Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...
, Nigeria.


Early life and education

Oguamanam is from
Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state takes its name from the Qua ...
State, South-South
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
. She is married to Chidi Oguamanam, a medical doctor. Her sister is
Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...
director and producer
Emem Isong Emem Isong is a Nigerian screenwriter, film producer, and film director. She has become known primarily for films in the English language, and is a dominant figure in the Nollywood industry. Her second directed feature, ''Code of Silence'', w ...
Misodi. Isong Oguamanam studied Communication Arts and Russian languages from the
University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Initially founded as the University College Ibadan in 1948, it maintained its affiliation with the University of London. In 1962, it became an independe ...
,
Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the List of Nigerian cities by population, third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano (city), Kano, with a total populatio ...
, Nigeria. She has a master's degree in New Media and Society from the
University of Leicester The University of Leicester ( ) is a public university, public research university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park, Leicester, Victoria Park. The university's predecessor, Univ ...
. She also has a Diploma in
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
from Alliance Francaiein,
Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...
, Nigeria.


Career

Oguamanam's first job was in the aviation industry as a cabin crew member for two years. She also worked in the capital market and telecoms industry. Oguamanam began writing prose and poetry. She ventured into film "when it looked like it was the more lucrative thing to do". Her early films were produced through Royal Arts Academy,
Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...
, owned by her sister,
Emem Isong Emem Isong is a Nigerian screenwriter, film producer, and film director. She has become known primarily for films in the English language, and is a dominant figure in the Nollywood industry. Her second directed feature, ''Code of Silence'', w ...
Misodi. Oguamanam set up Closer Pictures, Lagos. ''Falling'' is the first film produced under Closer Pictures. ''Falling'' tells the story of love and betrayal. The budget for ''Falling'' was 10 million
Nigerian Naira The naira (sign: ₦; code: NGN; , , , ) is the currency of Nigeria. One naira is divided into 100 ''kobo''. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the sole issuer of legal tender money throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It controls t ...
. In 2010, Oguamanam directed her first film ''To Live Again''. It was adapted from her short story which was published by
Farafina Farafina is a music and dance group from Burkina Faso, established in 1978. The eight-member group is Burkina Faso's best known musical group, and one of Africa's most internationally prominent musical groups. The official website of the band a ...
magazine based in
Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...
.


Training

Oguamanam has attended training and film-related events. She attended the
Berlinale Talent Campus The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
, in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
,
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
as a result of her screenplay ''Unfinished Business''. In 2012, Isong Oguamanam was chosen by the
British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lang ...
,
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
to the UK-
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
creative world partnership programme, in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, England. She also attended workshops at Raindance in the UK.


Awards

In 2006, Oguamanam was awarded the
Commonwealth Short Story Prize The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000 to 5,000 words). The prize is open to citizens of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations aged 18 and over. The Commonwealth Short ...
.


Advocacy and social work

Oguamanam tackles societal issues though her work. Her first project, ''To Live Again'', deals with the stigmatization faced by people living with HIV. In 2012, she produced and co-wrote ''Kokomma'' which tackled female sexual abuse. Her film, ''Fine Girl'' (2016), is the story of a young girl who turns to prostitution to save her dying father. Oguamanam also speaks on issues affecting
Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...
. In February 2018, she advised fellow film producers to "let other people sing their praise" in response to producers releasing unverified box office figures.


Okon

Oguamanam created the Okon character with the first in the series, '' Okon Lagos'' (2011). Actor Imeh Bishop Umoh acted as Okon. There are other films in the series such as ''Okon Goes To School'' (2013). Lost In London (2017) is the latest in the series, that continues Okon's adventures in Lagos.


Filmography

'' Okon Lagos'' (2011), ''Okon Goes to School (2013)'', '' Kokomma'' (2012)'', Lost In London'' (2017), ''
Kiss and Tell An unauthorized biography, sometimes called a kiss-and-tell, or a tell-all, is a biography written without the subject's permission or input. The term is usually restricted to biographies written within the subject's lifetime or shortly after t ...
'' (2011), ''Desperate House Girls'' (2015), ''Fine Gir''l (2016), ''It’s About Your husband (''2016), ''American Boy'' (2017), '' Falling (film) (2015)'', ''A Piece Of Flesh'' (2007), '' Holding Hope'' (2010), ''Stellar (''2015), ''Unfinished Business'' (2007'')'', ''Edikan'' (2009), ''Through The Fire'' & ''Entanglement'' (2009), ''Timeless Passion'' (2011), '' Bursting Ou''t (2010) ''Troubled Waters'' (2017), '' I’ll Take My Chances (2011),'' ''
Weekend Getaway ''Weekend Getaway'' is a 2012 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Desmond Elliot and starring Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo, Uti Nwachukwu, Alexx Ekubo, Bryan Okwara, Beverly Naya and Uru Eke. It received 11 nomi ...
'' (2012), ''Beyond Disability'' (2015), ''Champagne'' (2015), ''Dining With A Long Spoon'' (2014), ''On Bended Knees'' (2013), ''Stolen Tomorrow'' (2013), ''Mrs Somebody'' (2012), ''
Forgetting June ''Forgetting June'' is a 2013 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka, starring Majid Michel, Beverly Naya, and Mbong Amata. Cast *Majid Michel - Eddie *Beverly Naya - Tobi *Mbong Amata - June *Blossom Chuks Chukwujekwu - Georg ...
'' (2012), ''All That Glitters'' (2013), ''Misplaced'' (2013), ''Lonely Hearts'' (2013), ''Getting Over Him'' (2018), ''
Apaye ''Apaye'' (English: ''A Mother's Love'') is a 2014 Nigerian biographical drama film directed by Desmond Elliot and starring Clarion Chukwura, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Belinda Effah, and Mbong Amata. It premièred at the Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Isl ...
'' (2014), ''
The Department ''The Department'' is a satirical comedy on BBC Radio 4 about a secret organisation with the power to influence every aspect of your life. The show is written and performed by Chris Addison, John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman (cancelled after ...
'' (2015),


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Isong, Uduak Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Alumni of the University of Leicester Nigerian screenwriters Nigerian women film directors Nigerian women film producers Nigerian film producers University of Ibadan alumni Nigerian women writers Nigerian chief executives People from Akwa Ibom State Nigerian film actresses