‘Mr. Prolific’ Chico Ejiro begins final journey home

The remains of the late prolific filmmaker, Chico Meziakpono John Ejiro, will be laid to rest in his family compound in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Council of Delta State on February 20, the family has announced.

The family led by the filmmaker’s elder brother Olorogun Zeb Ejiro, OON also announced that activities leading to Chico’s internment will begin in Lagos on Monday, with a service song tagged Industry Evening of Tribute, which as the eldest Ejiro said, has been designed to hold in line with COVID-19 protocols.

“The service of songs for Chico my late brother will be a private family event, which would also be on zoom. The arrangements are basically to bring the COVID-19 protocols to bear. We considered that throwing it open will pull crowd as people will want to be physically present, so we are taking advantage of zoom” he said.

Popular in movie circles as Chico Ejiro or Mr. Prolific, the film and television producer and director died on December 25 as a result of complications arising from High Blood Pressure. Survived by his wife, Joy, four children and two brothers (Peter Red Ejiro and Zeb Ejiro), Chico was highly regarded in the industry. He holds what is obviously an unbroken record of being the director with the greatest number of home videos that have been upped for public viewing.

From his directing debut Aiye Male, a Yoruba movie, Chico has signed ton and tons of movies as producer and director, including Silent Night, Full Moon, Tears of Love, Onome, Deadly Affairs, Obsession and Dead End.

A strong Arsenal fan, Chico told the Guardian in an earlier interview that the only thing that can stop him from making movies is if he cannot move his body again.

“I am in this until I cannot move my body again. I mean, nothing gives me joy as hitting location to tell a story that people will watch, enjoy and learn something from. So, I will keep at it and just ask God for His grace,’’ he said.