Few months after winning multiple trophies at this year’s The Audio Visual Awards (TAVA), the Mrs. Ariyike Oladipo-led Apreel Ventures Limited, producers of wave-making soap opera, Spider, was honoured again at the recently held AFRICAST 2010, in Abuja.
Star-studded Spider won in the Best Drama On TV category, and was rewarded with N150, 000 cash, a plaque and certificate. According to the organizers (NBC), the event was aimed at celebrating local content and Africanness.
Commenting on the importance of the award, which she picked on behalf of Apreel Ventures, top actress, Mrs. Maimuna Yahaya, also one of the lead acts in Spider, said it was well-deserved. She further thanked the organizers for recognizing and rewarding the efforts of Apreel Ventures, to the growth and sustenance of local content, adding that it would spur them to do more.
Reacting on the award and the recently released new episodes of Spider currently serenading viewers on TV, elated Oladipo, who’s currently out of the country, promised they won’t rest on their oars. “I see all these awards as achievements for Apreel Ventures. It’s also a sign that we are doing something great and that our jobs are being hugely appreciated by Nigerians from all walks of life. We have new and reloaded 26 episodes of Spider currently showing on air and the response so far, has been overwhelming. We are trying very hard every day to do great things with Spider and in doing all these; we keep improving with our production quality. We also know where we are going and will definitely get there very soon. The whole essence is to thrill, educate and help viewers to relax on a weekly basis and that we are doing very well”, she posited.
Speaking on the challenges facing the big budget production that is syndicated on network stations nationwide, Oladipo, disclosed that funding remains a major encumbrance, adding that it has not been easy lensing with limited fund on a weekly basis. “Despite this major challenge I don’t see us quitting. For five seasons now, we have been trying so hard to sustain Spider on air, at a very huge cost on Apreel Ventures. We are also grateful to our advertisers, viewers, supporters and the Nigerian public for assisting and watching us every week. We won’t let them down, but keep improving with the quality of our production for their maximum enjoyment,” she added.
The enthralling story of Spider is seen by many as a constant web of seduction, deception, rivalry, intrigue, betrayal, lust and revenge. Among the galaxy of stars that are still sparkling and sizzling in Spider are: Akin Lewis, Felix Omuni, Femi Branch, Ronnie Dikko, Chinyere Nwabueze, Memuna Yahaya, Dare Fasasi, Thelma Okoduwa and a host of others.
