August 05, (THEWILL) – Veteran television screenwriter Charles Owoyemi is dead. Owoyemi passed away on 19 July after a brief illness which was not revealed nor the location where he died. The deceased was private and rarely granted interviews in his lifetime. Owoyemi’s career took a backseat after the industry evolved, but it remains unclear if this was due to ill health. Paying tribute, other filmmakers expressed their deep sorrow over the loss. The filmmakers described him as a quiet and near introverted personality, noting that the late scriptwriter’s strengths are in his brain and hands, which he applied to his chosen career in the creative world. Owoyemi’s career was marked by his exceptional talent in scripting and production. He is best known for his extensive work on ‘New Village Headmaster,’ for which he wrote over 50 episodes between 1984 and 1990. This influential series was a staple of Nigerian television during its run on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). In addition to his work on ‘New Village Headmaster,’ Owoyemi wrote for ‘Second Chance,’ another notable NTA series. He also created and co-produced the soap opera ‘Fortunes’ on NTA, which aired from 1993 to 1995 in collaboration with Zeb Ejiro. Furthermore, Owoyemi contributed to ‘Palace,’ a popular AIT soap opera from 1997 to 1999, among several other scripts and film projects. Owoyemi’s influence extended beyond his productions. The screenwriter also played a crucial role in the careers of many prominent actors and actresses. Notable actors and actresses that emerged from his works include Segun Arinze, Liz Benson, and Regina Askia. The late scriptwriter has also worked with Ramsey Noah, Patrick Attah, Okey Bakassi, and many others.
