MEET THE PRODUCER / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF PRAISE PARTY FILM ANULI AJAGU

ABOUT THE PRODUCER / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ANULI AJAGUAnuli Ajagu first graced the Nigerian TV screen in the 1990s, captivating audiences with her role as Gloria in the hit soap opera, "Fortunes." Acting alongside stars such as Ramsey Nouah,

 Regina Askia, and Liz Benson, Anuli established herself as a talented thespian. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Jos in Nigeria, where she graduated in 1991, focusing primarily on playwriting.

 She also has a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication, as well as post -graduate diploma in Journalism. She’s currently a doctoral student at Royal Roads University, BC, 

Canada.Fresh out of the university, she wrote and produced a stage production called ‘Painful Silhouette,’ directed by a friend and co-thespian, Victor Dugga. 

Her late sister, Uche Ezike-Dennis (then Uche Ufodike), featured in the cast as lead actress. It was a contemporary play, 

a ticketed event and people showed up, including the General Manager of Plateau Radio Television at the time, Mr. Leo Keyen.The performance received a standing ovation and spontaneous recognition from Mr. Keyen. He offered her an opportunity to collaborate with the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTC) as a script writer,

 and to come up with 13 episodes of scripts with exciting moral message like she had done with “Painful Silhouette.”She soon began writing the scripts. That stint was, however, short-lived, having been interrupted by political instability in Nigeria, forcing her and her family to relocate to Lagos from Jos, North-Central Nigeria, in 1993.While working behind the scenes as a props personnel at the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Lagos, fate landed her a role in the then newly-launched soap opera, ‘Fortunes.’ Anuli's portrayal of Gloria alongside Ramsey Nouah's character made her a household name, thanks to the soap opera's nationwide success.Following this, in 1995, Anuli took a break to start a family and focused on other expressions like her NGO, Youth and Gender Network, authoring books, and spearheading ministry initiatives. A prolific writer, she has over 300 published articles in various media including columns that she wrote for Encomium Magazine, ThisDay Newspaper, The Sun, Leadership and Lifestyle, amongst others.Fast track to 2005, following the sudden demise of her mentor and pastor, she began to re-evaluate herself. Perturbed by the resolve to leave a legacy, she decided to journey into her first love, the creative arts. That culminated in a successful stage play ‘Turning Point,’ written and produced by her in Lagos. This strengthened her resolve to not give up on her dream to become a film producer. However, that dream was stalled.Fast forward to 2017, a traumatic season for Anuli; she experienced a family crisis that left her life shattered. Still grappling with the heart wrenching emotional pain, in 2021 she experienced another devastating blow. It felt like the world around her had crumbled, as she lost her only sister, Uche Ezike-Dennis (nee Ufodike), to cancer. This devastating event served as a poignant reminder to seize the fleeting moments and breathe life into her dormant aspirations. With renewed determination, Anuli embraced her long-held dream of becoming a film producer.And so, in her 50s, she picked up her dream of over three decades, and fanned its spark into a flame. Overcoming the challenges of financing a film project and getting the best on board, she flew to Lagos from Canada, in April 2022 and shot the film, Praise Party. Despite competing priorities of pursuing a doctorate, a career in Consulting and Human Resources, running her NGO and ministry initiatives; and the responsibilities of the home-front, she has etched an indelible mark in the creative arts and world of film making.