The family of the late foremost movie producer/director, Chico Ejiro, has finally revealed what killed him. They have also fixed the date for his burial.
In a statement issued this morning made available to Maggie’s Blog and signed by the bereaved’s elder brother and veteran film maker, Zeb Ejiro OON, Chico died of high blood pressure on Christmas Day – Friday, December 25, 2020.
According to the family, Chico developed high blood pressure some time ago and was duly treated. He returned to his trade and rounded up the shooting of a movie only two days before Christmas.
But he gave up the ghost within 10 minutes of high blood pressure attack on Christmas Day.
The family has fixed his burial for February 20, 2021 at his home town, Ozoro, Isoko North LGA in Delta State.
Meanwhile, Chico’s beloved wife Joy, has returned to the United States where she has been taking care of their last born who had been diagnosed with cancer since he was a toddler six years ago.
Joy will be back in Nigeria to join the rest of the family in the burial of her husband in February.
The statement reads in full:
OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SON, CHICO EJIRO IS GONE
The Ejiro family of Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, wish to formally announce the untimely passing to eternity of their most cherished son, Chico Ejiro on Christmas day, December 25, 2020. His demise followed complications arising from high blood pressure for which he had been treated . He had returned delightfully to the only business he was so passionate about and had concluded his movie shoot barely two days before Christmas. His painful death was a tragic drama that took less than 10 minutes and there was silence.
Chico as he was widely known both locally and internationally, was a distinguished creative industry entrepreneur, a film and television Director/Producer, a talent investor and cineaste. He was reputed to have directed over 95 movies, a feat often hailed as unprecedented in Nigeria’s motion picture industry known as Nollywood. It was for his pacy and innovative directorial production style at the nascent stage of Nollywood that he was nicknamed Mr Prolific.
Beyond his core industry practice, Chico was known for his humane spirit, a deeply kind nature, his uncommon humility and amiable aura that inspired the wide partnerships he built and network of friends within and outside of the creative industry.
His company, Grand Touch Pictures, was known to have partnered with over 30 different movie organisations for television, film and reality TV show productions.
Importantly, Chico was a family man. He was totally committed to the cause of the welfare and happiness of his family. No matter where he was, whatever meeting, no matter how important the occasion, everything stopped at the call of his family. His devotion to his wife, children and indeed siblings was simply exemplary. He was passionately attached and ever grateful to his elder brother and mentor, Zeb Ejiro, OON, who inspired his career switch to the motion picture industry even though he read Agriculture at the university.
Chico in the last six years had devoted his entire life and resources to assure the health and survival of his youngest child who was diagnosed with cancer related ailments while still a toddler. His devoted wife, Joy Ejiro, has since been in the US to attend to their son and had returned with him temporarily for the yuletide holiday after being away for two years.
The funeral for this scion of Isoko nation, South-South region and indeed Delta state has been fixed for Saturday, February 20, 2021.
He is survived by wife, children, siblings, uncles and cousins.
SIGNED
Zeb Ejiro, OON
For the Ejiro Family.
