Nollywood is again in joyful mood as the news of two of its own progenitors, Justus Esiri and Adebayo Faleti made the 2008 National Honours list. The two bagged the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) Award. This brings to twelve (12), the number of Nigerian motion professionals who have bagged various National Awards in the last three years. Esiri and Faleti will join other recipients in 2008 for their investiture to be performed by President, Alhaji. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

With the emergence of Faleti and Esiri, another feather has been added to the hat of motion picture industry which has contributed in no small measure to promoting the cultural and artistic ingenuity that abounds in Nigeria through motion picture production. Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, expressed happiness at the recognition of this year's recipients, who are among the 211 Nigerians to be conferred with various National Honours.

An elated Adesanya has commended the recipients for their industry and various contributions towards the development of the Nigerian motion picture industry, particularly in the areas of acting and script writing respectively. According to the NFC boss, with this recognition by the federal government of Nigeria, charity, has indeed, begun from home. International recognition and awards, he added, would certainly follow on the heels of these national honours. He urged other industry professionals to continue to work harder and engage in motion picture productions that will resonate what makes Nigeria the giant of Africa.

For founder African Movie Academy Award, AMAA, Peace Anyiam Fiberesima, the awards to Esiri and Faleti are "long overdue but whenever such an honour is bestowed, one has to only thank God because He is the reason. The two artistes have contributed so much to the growth of Nollywood and sure deserve whatever comes their way as recognition. AMAA honoured Esiri a few years back. This National Honours is more of an endorsement for the AMAA award and we have been rejoicing for that.

Meanwhile, the recipients, Faleti and Esiri have expressed happiness over their nominations for the award of the Order of the Niger (OON). In separate reactions, the overwhelmed awardees were emotive in their gratitude to their fatherland for the recognition. An emotional choked Faleti managed a one liner,"I'm really VERY grateful". While Esiri, ever the Headmaster, was able to express his joy in the spirit of the Season, "What a time to receive this news! I weep for JOY". That is what Christmas is all about after all!

For Faleti, the road to this recognition did not come easily. Through hardwork and resilence, he has been able to impact positively on the industry. Born in December 1935, Faleti attended the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; University of Dakar, Senegal and the Radio Netherland Training Centre, Holland from 1965 -1971.

Between 1956 and 2000 he worked with the Western Nigeria Ministry of Home and Midwest Affairs, Ibadan, where he was responsible for the dissemination of government programmes, to becoming a Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife. In 2003, he was appointed, Chairman, Oyo State Council of Arts and Culture. His artistic works includes, the two hour celluloid film titled, LISABI, for which he acted as a consultant. He also wrote the screenplay and directed the film AGBAARIN in 1986. Others are AGBO MEJI, 1990, OKUNRIN TI OJU OKUNRIN LO, 1994, AFONJA, 2001, BASORUN GAA in 2003, and many more.

Chief Faleti has received several awards for his contributions to the film industry. Feleti who hails from Oyo state is considered a father figure to many industry practitioners who have continued to draw from his over 50 years of stage, radio and television production experiences and is still very active in the sector, fanning the embers of creativity, enlightenment and entertainment.

On the other hand, Esiri, was born in November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State. He started his academic studies in 1948 at the Catholic School, Warri. He was at the Maximillan University, Munich, German, 1964, Prof. Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin , 1967 and the Ahrens School of Performing Arts, 1968.

Esiri, detoured into motion picture production in 1968 as a staff of the Schiller Theater, Berlin, Germany, where he stayed till 1976. During the 1977 FESTAC held in Lagos, he choreographed the Modern Dress exhibition. From then onwards, the sky was indeed not the limit for Esiri. He was Production Manager for Dinner With The Devil. He worked as News translator and Newscaster with the Voice of Nigeria (German Service).

Several awards have also come the way of Esiri, they include; Thema Awards, NTA Honours Awards and AMAA Awards, as Best Actor.

Crowning his commanding performances, by adding panache to Nollywood productions like, Wasted Years, Forever, The Prize, Six Demons, Corridors of Power, Last Knight, The Tyrant, The investigation, The Ghost etc, Esiri has performed on more TV Network drama programmes more than any Nigerian actor. He acted as the Headmaster in the television soap The Village Headmaster. Esiri, has over the years conducted himself in very dignifying manner and has served as a changing agent who is easily identified for his noble roles.

As 2007 National Honours awardees, Esiri and Faleti will join the league of other motion pictures professionals who have done the Nigeria motion picture industry proud, and duly recognised. They are, Mr. Brendan Shehu (OON), Chief Eddie Ugbommah (OON), Mr. Zeb Ejiro (OON), Chief Jimoh Aliu, and Chief Lere Paimo (MFR), all honoured in 2005; and Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett (OON), Mr. Peter Igho (MFR), Mrs. Adetoun Oni (OON), Mr. Frank Aig-Imoukhuede (OON) and Chief Pete Edochie(MON), recipients of the 2006 edition of the National Awards.