Joy Inc., Author at Joy, Inc.

After a record two nominations, Chude Jideonwo’s film ‘Is it your money?’ wins Best Documentary prize at BON

‘Is it your money?’, the docu-series has been announced the winner of the ‘Best Documentary’ prize at the prestigious Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards. It is directed by award-winning filmmaker and host of the viral #WithChude talk show, Chude Jideonwo – and tells the story of high-level corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Jideonwo had two films nominated in this category, a record at the BON Awards. ‘Is it your money?’ other film ‘Where is Chijioke?’ was nominated alongside Kayode Kasum’s ‘Senegal: A Legend is Born’ and Jide Oyegbile’s ‘Nightlife in Lasgidi’.

“It’s humbling that I was not even thinking about being a film director just two years ago,” Jideonwo said. “And yet since then, films we have made have been honoured and selected by the AMVCAs, Afriff, festivals across Africa, Europe and North America, and now BON – with two films. I am thankful.”

The docu-series is set for streaming release in 2025.

It is produced by the studio, Chude Jideonwo Presents – dedicated to factual series and films from Africa.

Watch excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DC0trK2NKWl/?img_index=1

Updates

Chude Jideonwo Inspires Africa’s Future Leaders at Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme in Scotland

Renowned entrepreneur and thought leader Chude Jideonwo recently shared a powerful message on mental and emotional well-being with Africa’s brightest emerging leaders at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme, hosted by the University of Edinburgh. Addressing students from eight countries across two events, Chude challenged conventional career perspectives, urging young Africans to seek purpose beyond conformity and find the courage to “follow their spirits” in an era that often values financial success over fulfillment.

Chude, drawing from his own career journey, shared how a pivotal moment in 2016 led him to step away from traditional entrepreneurship, founding Joy, Inc., a company that emphasizes happiness and emotional wellness as core metrics of success. “What we’re looking for is happiness,” he said. “And we think the job, the title, the awards will give us that. But when we challenge these structures, they often crumble.” He encouraged attendees to navigate career paths that honor their authentic selves, emphasizing that professional success is not incompatible with personal joy and fulfillment.

In a session that sparked thoughtful dialogue on career and mental health, Chude’s message was one of empowerment: “Find the courage to follow your unique path,” he told the audience, as they discussed ways to thrive in a capitalist world that sometimes “crushes the soul.” His inspiring words underscored the value of staying true to one’s purpose and redefining success on terms that align with one’s deeper values, a sentiment that resonates with the Mastercard Foundation’s mission to foster transformative leadership across Africa.

Catch up on excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DB8EXXeNF3l/?img_index=1

Updates

House of Representatives committee hearing for Obianuju Iloanya’s case against SARS postponed – for the third time

The House of Representatives has adjourned the hearing on the petition brought by Obianuju Iloanya against the Nigeria Police Force – for the third time. The petition is for the disappearance of her brother, Chijioke in 2012 after being arrested by the Akwuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad headed by retired Chief Police Superintendent, James Nwafor.

The hearing is headed by committee chair, Honorable Mike Etiaba. It is the first time the case is being given attention by the federal government in the 12 years since her demand for justice began.

The case was adjourned the first time to enable the Inspector General of Police be summoned, and it was adjourned the second time after the IG’s representative claimed the case files cannot be identified, and it was adjourned the third time after the police didn’t show up for the adjourned hearing.

“We wrote to the IG to appear, and IG has not appeared yet,” Etiaba said at the last hearing. “You need to wait, let’s get across to the liaison officer of the police. You can be called upon tomorrow, just wait.”

The proceedings are captured in a new documentary ‘Where is Chijioke?’ released on 23 October. The documentary is directed by award-winning filmmaker and host of #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo. It is presented by the factual film and series studio from West Africa, Chude Jideonwo Presents.

The documentary follows the 10-day protest by 28-year-old Obianuju in front of the National Assembly demanding accountability in the case of her missing brother, who was 20 years old when he was arrested, and for definite information on his status.

The case has now been adjourned indefinitely, while Iloanya awaits a new hearing date.

The film is also available on-demand on the streaming platform withChude.com.

Watch excerpt: https://www.withchude.com/watch/ac1a1068-9c0f-489c-8185-630494571d92

Updates

“The officers are retired and we can’t trace the files”, IGP tells Senate about man who disappeared in police custody 12 years ago.

The Inspector General (IG) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun through his representative, has told the House of Representatives committee on public petitions that they cannot provide an update on the matter of Chijioke Iloanya because the officers in charge of the case are retired, and the files cannot be traced. Iloanya was arrested by the Akwuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – led by CSP James Nwafor – in Anambra State in November 2012 and disappeared in custody. He has not been found since.

“The officers who are mentioned in this petition are all retired, and they all served last in Anambra state.” the IG’s representative said. “The timeframe was too short for us to get across to them and get their input. Or alternatively know if we can bring them before this committee”

The representative made the statement while responding to a summons by the House committee headed by Honourable Mike Etiaba following a petition from the victim’s sister, Obianuju Iloanya who was represented at the hearing by Falana & Falana chambers. The proceedings are captured in a new documentary ‘Where is Chijioke?’ released on 23rd of October, 2024. The documentary is directed by award-winning filmmaker and host of #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo.

Responding to the police, a member of the committee, Oluwole Busayo Oke said, “The I.G should have cleared with the report of the investigation of this matter. We are all human beings, We can move this case till Monday but how or why, we do not know. To say that something that happened in 2012 has not been investigated, and you just want to start investigating (come on).”

“I have decided to go on my own and demand justice for my brother again. I decided on a solo protest because the last time I had a full protest or we had a full protest in Nigeria, people were killed just for protesting and I have lived for a survivor’s guilt for a while now. I can’t get it in my heart to pull people or ask them to come out on the street and join me. So, I have decided to do it alone” she said.

The documentary has been aired on Channels TV, AIT , Wazobia Max and Rave TV, and is available on demand on the streaming platform www.withChude.com.

It is the second installment in a groundbreaking long-term immersion journalism project started after the #EndSARS protests, where the filmmakers will not stop making television, film and content about Obianuju’s fight for justice – as long as Obianuju does not stop.

Watch excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBYAVByNMZE/

Updates

Chude Jideonwo announces release date for new short film ‘Where is Chijioke?’, second installment in immersion journalism project on #EndSARS

Award-winning filmmaker and host of #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo, has announced the release date for his new short film Where is Chijioke?, which documents the 10-day protest by Obianuju Iloanya, demanding justice and accountability for her brother, Chijioke, who has been missing for 12 years.

Chijioke was 20 years old when police officers under the Akwuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Anambra State arrested him in November 2012, under the instruction of Chief Superintendent of Police James Nwafor.

“We started telling Obianuju’s story after the #EndSARS protests in 2020,” said Jideonwo. “In a country where we quickly move on to the next tragedy and the next trending topic, Obianuju’s courage and resoluteness have inspired us. After our first documentary Awaiting Trial in 2022, as we witnessed the incredibly lonely journey she has embarked upon and the outpouring of empathy from Nigerians, we made a decision: we will be with her throughout this journey.

“This is our art as resistance: resistance against a system that chooses to silence this young Nigerian woman, and a culture that gives up too soon, once a citizen has been a victim of oppression. This has now become a long-term immersion journalism project, which means we won’t stop making TV, film, and content about this case as long as Obianuju does not stop.”

The film is directed by Chude Jideonwo and co-written by Chude Jideonwo and Dami Orimogunje. Bolu Akindele is the associate producer, and ‘Yemi Adamolekun is the co-executive producer. The original soundtrack is by Ava Momoh, and Tunde Apalowo is the supervising editor. It is presented by the factual film and series studio from West Africa, Chude Jideonwo Presents.

It will air on Arise TV, Channels TV, AIT, Wazobia Max, and Rave TV, and will afterward be available on-demand exclusively on the streaming platform www.withChude.com.

Watch excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBYAVByNMZE/

Updates

Chude Jideonwo announces special #EndSARS series for October – with 2 documentaries, and 4 special interviews including with Falz and Mr Macaroni

Filmmaker and host of the viral talk show #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo, has announced a special #EndSARS film, content, and TV series for the month of October, on the 4th anniversary of the historical #EndSARS protests. The series is presented by the factual film and series studio from West Africa, Chude Jideonwo Presents.

“This groundbreaking series is our art as resistance to a culture that forgets too quickly and moves on too easily,” Jideonwo says. “#EndSARS is not the biggest protest in Nigeria’s history—we have had several over the course of its 100-year history as a people, but #EndSARS is for us the latest touchstone of a people’s continuing desire for a country that’s fair and just.

“Every year, for as long as we can, we will remember, and we will ensure that the nation and the world never forget the courage, the clarity, and the sacrifices that Nigerians made in October 2020.”

The series, which kicks off on Tuesday 15 October, will include:

The film, Awaiting Trial: Extended Cut
The film, Where is Chijioke?
#WithChude Interview with actor and comedian, Debo ‘Mr Macaroni’ Adebayo
#WithChude Interview with actor and musician, Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana
Japa! interview with a Nigerian who relocated after #EndSARS

The series will air across multiple platforms including Arise TV, Channels TV, AIT, Wazobia Max, Rave TV, on YouTube and on-demand exclusively on the streaming platform withChude.com.

Watch excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBF_CLGtRJN/

Updates

#WithChude Nominated for Podcast of the Year at the Africa Choice Awards 2024.

#WithChude, the groundbreaking interview series known for its deep and authentic conversations, has been nominated for “Podcast of the Year” at the prestigious Africa Choice Awards. This recognition reflects the platform’s consistent impact in providing intimate and vulnerable discussions that have resonated across Africa and beyond.

With each episode, #WithChude, hosted by Chude Jideonwo, engages Africa’s biggest celebrities, cultural figures, and everyday people in conversations that challenge societal norms and inspire mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. Widely syndicated across terrestrial television and social media platforms, the show reaches over 8 million viewers weekly, making it the most-watched weekly talk show in the region. Its nomination for the Africa Choice Awards further validates its standing as a leader in African media.

#WithChude continues to break new ground with its viral interviews and the recently launched subscription platform, withChude.com. “Thanks to our listeners for their continued support. This is a reminder that we are doing something right. So we keep doing it!” Chude reflects on his Instagram page.

Check excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBCJSP-u8Nw/?img_index=1

Updates

“Is it your money?” and “Where is Chijioke?” nominated for Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards for Best Documentary

Chude Jideonwo, the host of the viral show #WithChude and the producer of the recently launched docu-series, ‘Daniel vs Ekweremadu – the battle over one man’s kidney’ is delighted to announce that two of its groundbreaking documentary productions, ‘Is It Your Money?’ and ‘Where is Chijioke?’, have been nominated for Best Documentary at the prestigious Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards 2024.

These nominations affirms Chude’s unwavering dedication to producing impactful and thought-provoking content that shines a spotlight on critical societal issues. This year, #WithChude made a deliberate pivot towards documentaries and factual films, a bold move that has now earned recognition from respected platforms like the BON Awards.

‘Is It Your Money?’ tackles the complexities of wealth, ownership, and influence, while ‘Where is Chijioke?’ uncovers a heart-wrenching story of a young man’s mysterious disappearance, both of which have struck a deep chord with the society and critics alike.

As the #WithChude show continues to push the boundaries of storytelling, it remains committed to delivering powerful narratives that provoke thought and inspire change. The release date for ‘Is It Your Money?’ will be revealed soon!

Check excerpt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DA_kXbbtq2c/

Updates

#WithChude Nominated for Pulse Influencer Awards 2024 – Podcast Category

The viral show #WithChude, hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo, has been nominated for the prestigious Pulse Influencer Awards 2024 in the Podcast category. This recognition comes as a result of the unwavering support from the community and the impactful conversations that #WithChude has sparked over the years.

Chosen by a distinguished jury of media and creativity leaders, this nomination highlights the quality and relevance of the podcast’s content, its influence across the African media landscape, and the deep connections it continues to foster with listeners across the globe. This is a celebration of storytelling, vulnerability, and the fearless pursuit of truth in every conversation.

At the heart of this achievement is withChude.com, a subscription-based video-on-demand and podcast platform hosting a wide range of African stories, from films and series to interviews and documentaries. Powered by the singular voice of its host, Chude Jideonwo, #WithChude has grown into the only independent media platform in the region sustained primarily by its paid subscribers. Its flagship interview series continues to go viral for insightful conversations with Africa’s biggest personalities.

Reaching over 8 million people weekly across terrestrial television and social media, #WithChude is now the most-watched and most syndicated weekly talk show (digital + traditional) in the region. This nomination for the Pulse Influencer Awards is an affirmation of the platform’s impact and the continued importance of telling stories that uplift and inspire.

Updates

“The Igbo interpreter hired by Ekweremadu turned on them”

In a major revelation from the blockbuster docu-series ‘Daniel vs Ekweremadu’, Channels TV’s UK correspondent, Juliana Olayinka has said that Evelyn ‘Ebere’ Agbasonu, an Igbo interpreter who allegedly asked for payment of £1500 to help coach the victim-survivor ‘Daniel’ to secure a private kidney transplant for Sonia Ekweremadu actually turned on her clients.

The docu-series is written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and TV host, Chude Jideonwo.

Sonia is the daughter of former Nigerian deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu who was sentenced to 10 years in a British jail for human trafficking last year.

“Daniel said, in court, that when he and the Igbo woman were in the lift, she turned on them,” Olayinka said. “She said to him, ‘don’t do it’”

According to Olayinka, “It stirred something in him, it rattled him. It rattled him so much that the final consultation came out and they said ‘We are not going to do the kidney donation’”

Ms Agbasonu who was a longtime staff of the Royal Free Hospital, helped interpret Igbo in an initial meeting on February 24 between Dr. Peter Dupont and ‘Daniel’. It was after the meeting that the doctor decided the transplant could not go ahead.

According to the prosecutor Hugh Davies KC in the court at the time, Ms Agbasonu’s conduct was “somewhat extraordinary” Ekweremadu’s brother, Diwe who brokered the meeting, had said to his brother before: “I’ve met the Igbo interpreter. She agreed to work with us. She will be involved in coaching the boy, and during his consultation and interviews she will be providing the relevant interpretation. She insisted that I give her £1,500. She covered up for him and added the words as much as possible.”

According to the text messages viewed by the documentary producers, during the process, Ekweremadu had told his brother to “test others for back up (kidneys).”

Part 1 of the two-part docu-series was released on Friday, 23 August by the studio, Chude Jideonwo Presents.

‘Daniel’ is the name given by the documentary filmmakers to the victim-survivor of the first conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Law – under which Ekweremadu became the first to be sentenced to jail alongside his wife, Beatrice and a doctor-friend, Obinna Obeta. It follows a directive from the judge of the case for the real name to remain undisclosed.

‘Daniel vs Ekweremadu’ tells the story of Senator Ekweremadu’s fall from deputy senate president to British jailbird upon his conviction for organ harvesting.

Shot in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the series includes exclusive access to British prosecutors, police, the family of the survivor-victim amongst others in this first-of-its-kind thriller-style documentary from a West African independent studio.

The two-part series is available exclusively on the streaming platform www.withChude.com. It is produced by the factual film and series studio, Chude Jideonwo Presents.

Link to the official trailer: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-jxonRt3TE/

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