• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Filmmaker and author, Laju Iren, premiered her latest movie, Onobiren, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at EbonyLife Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos, drawing a colourful gathering of celebrities, dignitaries and film enthusiasts. The premiere, themed "South-South Royalty," turned the venue into a vibrant display of Niger Delta culture, as guests appeared in regal outfits reflecting the region's traditional heritage. The evening blended fashion, culture and cinema in celebration of the upcoming film. Among the dignitaries and celebrities present were Delta State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Orode Uduaghan; media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo; lead pastor of Celebration Church International and husband of the executive producer, Emmanuel Iren; as well as Michael Ejoor, Juliana Olayode, Blessing Nze, Ojoma Ochai, Ruby Akubueze, Desmond Bryce and Amanda Dara, among others. The film, which began screening in cinemas from March 6, features Ruby Akubueze, Bisola Aiyeola, Deyemi Okanlawon, Patience Ozokwor, Norbert Young and Desmond Bryce. Sharing the inspiration behind the project, Iren said, "As an Itsekiri girl, this speaks to the fact that women can be underrepresented in terms of storytelling and the kinds of stories they are told. We see women in stories, but sometimes it's always the same kind of stories. I am also from what some might consider a minority tribe, and we are not really as represented as we should be. It was just really nice to do something unique. We shot some of the scenes in my grandma's village, Koko. It's a beautiful place. So it was really nice to be able to represent the South-South in that regard. At the end of the day, it's one Nigeria. It's one Africa. And just really bringing different perspectives and different cultures makes the storytelling even more beautiful. It will elevate women's stories; it will spark conversations about gender roles, sometimes in faith aspects, sometimes not." Source: https://punchng.com/dignitaries-grace-premiere-of-laju-irens-onobiren/