IBADAN FILM CIRCLE (IFC) CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF YINKA OGUNDAISI
Call him Nollywood’s memory priest, you will not be too wrong. He had vital information on every phase and policy the sector had witnessed, he had vital information to share. That is how the death of Yinka Ogundaisi is like the falling of the industry’s memory tree.
Among other stakeholders who have been mourning him, the Ibadan Film Circle, which is planning a farewell programme for him, put his departure in perspective thus:
With a heavy heart and total submission to powers beyond us, we announce the death of Yinka Ogundaisi, our friend, colleague, companion, and banter-mate at the Ibadan Film Circle (IFC). He had been with us from the start of the IFC journey in 2016 till the cold hands of death snatched him away on June 15, 2022, in LUTH Lagos. Before then, he had put up a stellar fight against a crippling ailment for years.
OLAYINKA OGUNDAISI, born on the 18th of February, 1953, ailed from Okaka in Itesiwaju Local Government of Oyo state. A true proverbial man of many parts, he was an actor, writer, theatre and film director, public policy analyst (Arts & Culture/Entertainment), communications & corporate marketing/business development consultant. He was a Member, Nigerian Institute of Management, an accredited Management Trainer by Centre for Management Development (CMD) and a psychologist.
From a humble beginning in Okaka, he went on to work with Train-The-Trainer (TTT); Xerox International in 1982 after his school GCE certification in 1976. By 1984 he was in the Communications Arts unit of Xerox Nigeria from where he went on to occupy the position of the Country Champion; Total Quality Management, TQM – Xerox International between 1985 and 1986. Between 1986 and 1989, he secured a diploma in Marketing Management as one of the pioneer graduates if the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Again, as part of a pioneer graduating set, he earned a Masters in Managerial Psychology from the University of Ibadan in 1999.
In a period of 19 years between 1980 and 1999 when he was at Total Quality Management (TQM), he went through the ranks from Sales Executive in 1980, Field Trainer in 1982, to Country Champion in 1986 and thereafter all the strategic senior management positions in Sales, Human Development, Marketing and Customer Accounts.
In the course of his eventful life, he was an independent television, radio and film producer and contents developer and supplier to broadcasting channels. He also functioned as management trainers of blue chips companies, banks and the NNPC.
Between 2000 and 2004, he was the National Sales Manager of PANABIZ/PANASONIC with responsibilities covering key accounts and direct sales with supervisory management of the national sales structure. In the two years that follow, 2004 – 2006, he was Commercial Manager, CFAO Technologies.
For five years, 2006 – 2011, he served as Technical Consultant to the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). In this position, he was involved in the conceptualization, design and technical supervision of the Board’s New Distribution and Exhibition Framework, including staff support to the Director General on Public Policies Analysis and Industry-related matters.
Recently, before his demise, he was the Chief Executive Officer: Universal Films & Communications Limited, a motion pictures productions and contents supply company. He was the Principal Consultant: Y.O. & Associates Consulting, a management training and business consultancy outfit, specializing in designing and implementing clients’ business development, consultancy assignments and overall day-to-day supervisory management. He was also a vibrant member of Ibadan Film Circle (IFC)
Notable among his lifetime achievements are:
i. development of a new drama series for family cohesiveness; Happy Homes
ii. 2015 production of a new English movie on family sustainable happiness; Pardonable Unforgiveable
iii. 2014 resuscitation and development of the longest-running Yoruba counseling drama series, Feyikogbon, (aka ‘Learn-From-This’) into a global brand, broadcasting on local terrestrial television as well as cable channels (DSTV and Skyy in Europe)
iv. 2006 conceptualization and development of the New Distribution and Exhibition Framework, (NDEF) to streamline the distribution of movies and music with global best practices and eliminate piracy for National Film & Video Censors Board, (NFVCB);
v. 2004 re-publication of his novel on African Hypnotism as a modern thriller, The Charmed Lock, first published in 1992;
vi. 2004 introduction of the first national sales structure and the first Sales Management Diary (SMD) at CFAO Technologies;
vii. 2002 revival of the late Chief Duro Ladipo’s group to stage the epic play, Oba Koso to introduce his concept African Repertoire Theatre, Art and Global Children Theatre
viii. 1999 writing and directing another English movie, Hostess, featuring Gloria Anozie, Clarion Chukwurah and Yomi Obileye;
ix. 1995 writing and directing Destiny with Olu and Joke Jacobs in the lead roles;
x. 1993 introducing Nigerian version of Sales Activities Management Diary (SAMD) in Xerox;
xi. 1992 developed strategies for managing global accounts in Nigeria for Xerox;
xii. 1990 writing and directing Nigeria’s First English video movie titled Give and Take
xiii. 1986 – till death: regular articles in national newspapers in policy analysis on arts, information, cultural and entertainment affairs.
The wisdom of our forebearers maintains that the only antidote against death is a good legacy. We are happy that our friend and colleague is survived by children, grand-children and above all an enviable legacy of service and dedication to humanity.
Ropo Ewenla,
for Ibadan Film Circle
