Uduak Isong Oguamanam is a Nigerian

Nollywood Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there ...

scriptwriter, producer and entrepreneur based in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

, 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

, Nigeria.

Early life and education

Oguamanam is from

Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe ...

State, South-South

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. She is married to Chidi Oguamanam, a medical doctor. Her sister is

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'', ...

Misodi. Isong Oguamanam studied Communication Arts and Russian languages from the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and over 6 million people within its me ...

, Nigeria. She has a master's degree in New Media and Society from the

University of Leicester , mottoeng = So that they may have life , established = , type = public research university , endowment = £20.0 million , budget = £326 million , chancellor = David Willetts , vice_chancellor = Nishan Canagarajah , head_labe ...

. She also has a Diploma in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

from Alliance Francaiein,

, 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,

, owned by her sister,

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 (currency sign, sign: ₦; ISO 4217, 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 ...

. 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. History The group was founded ...

magazine based in

Training

Oguamanam has attended training and film-related events. She attended the

Berlinale Talent Campus The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

, in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

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 lan ...

to the UK-

creative world partnership programme, in

London, UK London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major se ...

. 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

. 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 ''Kokomma'' is a 2012 Nigerian drama film directed by Tom Robson. It stars Belinda Effah, Ini Ikpe and Ekere Nkanga. It received 3 nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards, with Effah winning the award for Most Promising Actor for her ...

'' (2012)'', Lost In London'' (2017), '' Kiss and Tell'' (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 ''Holding Hope'' is a 2010 Nigerian drama film written by Uduak Isong Oguamanam, produced by Emem Isong and Uche Jombo, and directed by Desmond Elliot. It stars Desmond Elliot, Uche Jombo and Nadia Buari, introducing Abiola Segun Williams. It wa ...

'' (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 nominati ...

'' (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 Is ...

'' (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. Chris Addison, John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman star as Research Team 32, an eccentric three-man think-tan ...

'' (2015),

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Isong, Uduak Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Alumni of the University of Leicester Nigerian businesspeople 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