“Wow, this is a great honour!”, says Barr. Kenneth Okonkwo, as he received both the plaque and certificate of honour over the weekend.
He said: “I’m truly humbled and grateful to receive this award as the Nollywood Icon of the Year 2025. I thank Sun Publishers for this recognition and for believing in the power of storytelling through audio/visual images.
“To my family led by my wife, Ifeoma Ken-Okonkwo, my fans, friends, and colleagues, both in Nollywood, and in all other sectors I operate in, thank you for your unwavering support, love, and prayers.
“This award is not just mine, it’s ours. In Nollywood, there cannot be any solo actor. We operate as a team. This award is a testament to what we can achieve together.
“To the industry, I’m proud to be part of this journey as the pioneer lead actor who acted in the first movie Living in Bondage that started Nollywood in 1992.
“The tempo has been sustained and surpassed because we are now the number two in the world. Let’s keep telling stories that inspire, inform, educate, and entertain.
“Thank you, and God bless you. let’s keep shining!”
Okonkwo, also a lawyer, has equally played prominent roles in reshaping Nigerian politics, though unfortunately, is not gaining traction due to entrenched interests of the political hegemony.
