By Uche Amunike.Nigerian President, General Muhammadu Buhari has joined family, friends and fans of veteran Nollywood actor, writer and producer, Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD to celebrate him as he turned 60, Tuesday.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity made this known in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari Felicitates with Movie Star, Richard Mofe-Damijo at 60′.
It read: ‘The President congratulates the veteran actor, who is also a lawyer, on his many achievements in the entertainment industry, winning national and international awards that brought glory to the local film industry, and placed the country on global limelight’.
In the statement, General Buhari acknowledged the contributions of RMD to the field of Community and Development Communications, Tourism and Journalism, working in the public service as a former Commissioner of Culture and Tourism preceded by serving as Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism in Delta state.
He believes that the Nigerian entertainment industry has successfully earned a reputable place in the world through hard-working and dedicated professionals whose tenacity, creativity and resilience continue to attract and sustain viewers on the beauty and cultural diversity of the country.
He felicitated with Nollywood and prayed for God’s continued blessings on the Mofe-Damijos.
The President also felicitated with RMD on his achievements in the entertainment industry as well as his national and international awards that brought glory to the local film industry.
Incumbent Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa also felicitated with RMD in his birthday message to him where he described him as the pride of the State.
In a statement by his spokesman Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Okowa described RMD as a quintessential actor whose contributions to the development of the entertainment industry in Nigeria was remarkable.
He extolled him for his humility, patriotism, mentorship and support to budding talents, adding that the debonair actor had remained a huge inspiration, pride and ambassador of Delta.
He lauded him for bringing his many years of experience in acting which had inspired many to the thespian profession.
Mofe-Damijo was born in Aladja community of Udu Kingdom, near Warri, Delta State. He attended Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School and was a member of the Drama Club. He enrolled into the University of Benin to continue his education and studied Theatre Arts. In 1997 Mofe-Damijo enrolled to study law at the University of Lagos and graduated in 2004. He had briefly worked at National Concord in the late 80s and acquitted himself as a creative writer.
RMD is a proud father of five children, three sons and two daughters. He is also a grandfather. He shares a very close bond with his children and grandchildren.
His first and late wife, May Ellen Ezekiel, popularly called MEE, was a popular magazine Editor and TV personality. They were happily married with children and successful in their endeavours, until she died in 1996 during a fibroid surgery in a Lagos hospital.
A few years later, he got married to his current wife, Jumoke Adegbesan, a journalist with AIT who has now left the media to join the corporate sector. They married in 2000 and have kids together.
