Mary Onyinye Okeke, a 33-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist, is taking a bold step into Nollywood with her new venture, Akwa-Amaka Productions. As the Managing Director of the company, which is an extension of The Light Givers Humanitarian Foundation where she serves as Secretary General, Mary aims to bridge the gap between young talent and opportunities in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview, Mary, who graduated from Lagos State University in 2008 with a degree in Biochemistry, shared her excitement about launching Akwa-Amaka in June 2019. “We’ve only been around for four months, but we are focused on discovering, mentoring, and supporting young talents in the music and film industries,” she said. “The company is a brainchild of The Light Givers Humanitarian Foundation, and our mission is to promote young talent and give them the platform they need to succeed.”
Since its launch, Akwa-Amaka Productions has already produced two films, Ezeudo and The Bishop, which feature prominent Nollywood actors such as Zack Orji and Ngozi Ezeonu. Mary herself made her acting debut in The Bishop, an experience she described as “exciting and interesting.”
When asked about her views on Nollywood, Mary highlighted the untapped opportunities in the industry. “There’s a growing demand for African content, but the supply isn’t enough. We want to help fill that gap by producing high-quality films and telling African stories,” she explained.
Mary is confident that Akwa-Amaka Productions will stand out in a crowded market. “What sets us apart is our commitment to helping young people who have the talent but not the resources to promote themselves,” she said. “We’re also focused on improving production quality and taking our films to international standards.”
Looking ahead, Mary revealed plans to take Akwa-Amaka beyond traditional media. “We’re aiming for cinemas, TV, and online platforms, and we also hope to establish our own online TV and distribution channels,” she added. “Our goal is to showcase Africa to the world and tell stories that haven’t been told yet.”
