Genevieve Nnaji, Akin Omotosho Included In Oscars Voting Board Invites

Award-Winning Nigerian actress and producer Genevieve Nnaji has been appointed to serve on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation which hands out the Oscars.

Cynthia Erivo, John David Washington, Eva Longoria, Zendaya and Awkwafina are also among the 819 diverse people from all sectors of the industry included this year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended invitations to join the organization to 819 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. 

The 2020 class is 45% women, 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 49% international from 68 countries. 

There are 75 Oscar® nominees, including 15 winners, and five recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards.  Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2020.

Genevieve Nnaji’s appointment comes months after her own film Lionheart, which was Nigeria’s first-ever Oscar submission for best international feature film in 2019 was disqualified.

The appointment means Genevieve Nnaji and Akin Omotosho that they have Oscar voting privileges and have automatic rights to vote for the Oscar winners for 10 years,

Both filmmakers now join the likes of Nigerian actresses Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Wunmi Mosaku; film producer and directors Femi Odugbemi and Ngozi Onwurah, who were invited to the Academy in 2018.

 Genevieve took to Twitter to share the news

“I’m honored to be a member of the family. Thank you @TheAcademy

She quoted and retweeted the Academy’s tweet:

I’m honored to be a member of the family. Thank you @TheAcademy !! https://t.co/KBmza9he9E

— Genevieve Nnaji MFR (@GenevieveNnaji1) July 1, 2020

You can read the statement HERE