Patience Ozokwor

Patience Ozokwor
Born	28 March 1958 Ngwo, Enugu, Nigeria
Other names	Mama G
Occupation(s)	Actress, Musician, Fashion designer
Years active	1999—2014

Patience Ozokwor aka Mama G is a Nigerian actress. She has been in over 200 movies till date.

Early life

Ozokwor was born on 25 March 1958 Ngwo, Enugu, Nigeria, she comes from a humble family in Ngwo. Her village is Amaobo. She attended Abimbola Gibson Memorial School, Lagos. She gained admission into Methodist Girls, Yaba but it was in the heat of the political crisis that later culminated into the civil war, she had to relocate to Enugu. Her father insisted that she was too young to be in the secondary school and that she should go back to Elementary five. She obeyed him and went two steps backwards in her education and later re-wrote the Common Entrance Examinations that she had earlier passed in Lagos. She got admitted to Girls Secondary School, Ngwo, where she had her entire secondary education and on completion, her result were not good. She took the private G.C.E and passed all her papers. She got married immediately afterwards at age 19.

Later on, she attended Teachers Training College in Afikpo from where she proceeded to IMT Enugu where she studied Fine and Applied Arts, specialising in Graphics. But she never practiced for one day. Initially, she never had the intention of joining the film industry. She did not even know anything about the industry. She was a teacher by training and she taught for about four years before venturing into broadcasting. She was employed as an announcer with FRCN Enugu and was later retrenched when they closed down all the medium wave band stations. She went into business.

Acting career

During her teacher training days in Afikpo, she had a competent Literature teacher who made them present a play each term. When it was the turn of her set to present a play, she was given the Role of Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s play of the same title and the production came out fine. Other schools that offered Hamlet as a subject paid to watch their production. In fact, they were invited to stage the play in so many other places in Southeastern Nigeria. She was very popular then and everywhere she went people were calling her Hamlet. But after the teachers’ training, she forgot everything about drama until she went into Radio Nigeria.

It was Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya of New Masquarades) that invited her to take part in a commercial in which she played the wife of Pete Eneh. The commercial was a mass orientation promo by the Anambra State Government to encourage her citizens to acquire education before venturing into trading.

After the promo was shot, there was this positive reaction from the people, and Chief Zebrudaya himself was so impressed that he said, ‘what have you been doing with yourself, where are you, I am so impressed.’ He later confessed he never knew that he was doing the right thing by inviting her for the commercial. When Pete Eneh had the opportunity of shooting a serial (Someone Cares) for a television station, he gave her the lead role. During the shooting of the serial, many of the established faces that saw her commended her. They urged her not to light the candle and keep it under the table.

But as a member of the Scripture Union, she just felt that coming into Nollywood would give her an unnecessary exposure and secondly she was very shy. But those of them that wanted her on board were adamant until they succeeded in pulling her in and she was pleasantly surprised the way she rose in the industry.

After her first movie in 1998, she was already being recognised by people. But when she did Authority (1999), the movie became very popular and it really shot her into limelight. After Authority, she has been moving from one movie set to the another by the grace of God.

Patience has acted in many movies with actors and actresses such as Ini Edo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Rita Dominic, Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Van Vicker, Mike Ezuruonye Oge Okoye, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Chioma Chukwuka.

Mother in Nollywood

For a long time now people have started calling her Mother Africa. She has played the role of a mother to almost every prominent actor in Nollywood. She usually jokes with Olu Jacobs. She tells him that It is only him and Pete Edochie that have refused to let her play their mother.

Personal life

She lost her husband a few years ago to a terminal disease. Although she lost her husband, Ozokwo was full of joy and gratitude to God for her achievements in the entertainment world. The actress recalled her days as a teacher, broadcaster and owner of a fashion institute before she went into acting by accident or better still, as fate would have it. “Right now I am a widow and I have three biological children and I have adopted one because I needed more children especially when my husband passed on. She is a proud and caring mother of four, two sons, one daughter and she also adopted another child after her husband died. Ozokwo’s first son is an engineer while the last is a footballer with Rangers International of Enugu.

“Patience is different from Mai Azuka you know (from her various roles on Nigerian movies). She is hard working. I do so many things in life. I was once a radio announcer. I am also a fashion designer. “I love entertainment and that is why I do music, acting and designing.” She also spoke about her experience in Zimbabwe. “Zimbabwe is a beautiful country with a lot of potential to be harnessed, I have also come here to harness that myself. “My stay here has been quite an experience. I was taken to Victoria Falls and I saw some elephants there.”

Patience's daughter Chioma Ozokwo got married in Enugu in March 2010.

Playing Bad Roles

When asked about her playing bad roles Patience said, "When I play the role of a bad woman, I see myself at that instance as a mirror through which I want society to see and appreciate the fact that it is not good to be bad. This is the reason I do it with so much passion that it becomes almost believable and by extension, I also see such roles as an opportunity to minister to lost and wicked souls that jealousy, hatred, envy and all the likes can only bring one to ruins." She plays bad roles because it is regarded as her strong point. She portrays these roles with verve which makes people want to watch her movie.

Entering into character

When asked about entering scripts Patience said, "Surprisingly, I am very lazy at reading scripts over and over again. As soon as a script is given to me, I get into the character as soon as I read a few lines from any scene in the script and to tell you the truth, it baffles even me that I can perform such near magical acts. I give all the glory to God because I think it is part of the special gift he has deposited in me. A few glances at the script easily exposes me to my character and once I discover this, I would proceed to getting the lines into my head and of course, adding some other things that would make my role stand out. The way I memorize lines baffles me and once I get the lines in, it takes a long time for me to forget them.

Filmography

2014

• To Rise Again (Video)

2013

• Covert Operation (Video)

• Overseas (Video)

2012

• Bridge of Contract (Video)

• Bridge of Contract 2 (Video)

• Deep Water (Video)

• Deep Water 2 (Video)

• My World (Video)

• My World 2 (Video)

• My World 3 (Video)

• The End Is Near (Video)

• The End Is Near 2 (Video)

• The Enemy I See (Video)

• Turning Point (Video)

• The Enemy I See 2 (Video)

• World of the Mind (Video)

• World of the Mind 2 (Video)

2011

• Open & Close (video)

• Open & Close 2 (video)

2010

• Power Of A Kiss (video)

• Power Of A Kiss 2 (video)

2009

• Heavy Storm (video)

• Heavy Storm 2 (video)

• Missing Child (vide)

• Missing Child 2 (video)

• Personal Desire (video)

• Personal Desire 2 (video)

2008

• Act of Faith (vide)

• Act of Faith 2 (video)

• After My Heart (video)

• After My Heart 2 (video)

• After My Heart 3 (video)

• After My Heart 4 (video)

• Bottom of My Heart (video)

• Bottom of My Heart 2 (video)

• Critical Truth (video)

• Female Lion (video)

• Female Lion 2 (video)

• Heart of a Slave (video)

• Heart of a Slave 2 (video)

• Heaven After Hell (video)

• Heaven After Hell 2 (video)

• Husband My Foot (video)

• Husband My Foot 2 (video)

• Indian Doctor (video)

• Indian Doctor 2 (video)

• Marcus 'D' Millionaire (video)

• Marcus 'D' Millionaire 2 (video)

• Naked Wrestler (video)

• Naked Wrestler 2 (video)

• Onoja (video)

• Onoja 2 (video)

• Plane Crash (video)

• Plane Crash 2 (video)

• Plane Crash 3 (video)

• Sin No More (video)

• Sin No More 2 (video)

• Strength to Strength (video)

• Strength to Strength 2 (video)

• Stubborn Doctor (video)

• Stubborn Doctor 2 (video)

• The Evil Queen (video)

• The Evil Queen 2 (video)

• The Plain Truth (video)

• The Plain Truth 2 (video)

• The Wrong Money (video)

• The Wrong Money 2 (video)

2007

• Area Mama (video)

• Area Mama 2 (video)

• Away Match (video)

• Away Match 2 (video)

• Blood Apart (video)

• Blood Apart 2 (video)

• Divine Twins (video)

• Divine Twins 2 (video)

• Evil Agenda (video)

• Evil Agenda 2 (video)

• Final Kingdom (video)

• Final Kingdom 2 (video)

• Goddess of the Sun (video)

• Goddess of the Sun 2 (video)

• Help Me Out (video)

• Help Me Out 2 (video)

• Highest Offence (video)

• Highest Offence 2 (video)

• Holy Man (video)

• Holy Man 2 (video)

• Holy Man 3 (video)

• I Need a Husband (video)

• I Need a Husband 2 (video)

• Kingdom Apart (video)

• Kingdom Apart 2 (video)

• Legal War (video)

• Legal War 2 (video)

• Legal War 3 (video)

• Lions Den (video)

• Lions Den 2 (video)

• Lost in the Jungle (video)

• Lost in the Jungle 2 (video)

• Love and Age (video)

• Love and Age 2 (video)

• Love and Likeness (video)

• Love and Likeness 2 (video)

• Mountains of Evil (video)

• Mountains of Evil 2 (video)

• Naked Kingdom (video)

• Naked Kingdom 2 (video)

• Old Testament (video)

• Old Testament 2 (video)

• Only Daughter (video)

• Only Daughter 2 (video)

• Passion of My Blood (video)

• Passion of My Blood 2 (video)

• Pride of a Woman (video)

• Pride of a Woman 2 (video)

• Saved by Sin (video)

• Saved by Sin 2 (video)

• Silent Rage (video)

• Silent Rage 2 (video)

• Try & See (video)

• Try & See 2 (video)

• Unfinished Business (video)

• Unfinished Business 2 (video)

• Will of God (video)

• Will of God 2 (video)

2006

• The Monster: Demon In-Law 3 (video)

• Abuja Top Ladies (video)

• Abuja Top Ladies 2 (video)

• Abuja Top Ladies 3 (video)

• Aguba Igogoro (video)

• Alice My First Lady (video)

• Alice My First Lady 2 (video)

• Asunder (video)

• Asunder 2 (video)

• Beyond Dreams (video)

• Beyond Dreams 2 (video)

• Chicken Madness (video)

• Chicken Madness 2 (video)

• Dear Mama (video)

• Deep Bondage (video)

• Deep Bondage 2 (video)

• Demon In-Law (video)

• Demon In-Law 2 (video)

• Desperate Women (video)

• Desperate Women 2 (video)

• Divided Attention (video)

• Divided Attention 2 (video)

• Dry My Tears (video)

• Dry My Tears 2 (video)

• End of Battle (video)

• End of Battle 2 (video)

• Final Surrender (video)

• Final Surrender 2 (video)

• Living in Pain (video)

• Living in Pain 2 (video)

• My Love My Sorrow (video)

• My Love My Sorrow 2 (video)

• My Mother's Decision (video)

• My Mother's Decision 2 (video)

• No Where to Run (video)

• No Where to Run 2 (video)

• Peace Talk (video)

• Peace Talk 2 (video)

• Pounds and Dollars (video)

• Pounds and Dollars 2 (video)

• Sacred Blood (video)

• Sacred Blood 2 (video)

• Soul Engagement (video)

• Soul Engagement 2 (video)

• Soul Engagement 3 (video)

• Sweet Mama (video)

• Sweet Mama 2 (video)

• The Broken Shield (video)

• The Broken Shield 2 (video)

• The Devil in Her (video)

• The Devil in Her 2 (video)

• The Final Days (video)

• The Final Days 2 (video)

• The Hard Solution (video)

• The Humble Lion (video)

• The Humble Lion 2 (video)

• The Return of Mama-G (video)

• Total Crisis (video)

• Total Crisis 2 (video)

• 'U' General (video)

• 'U' General 2 (video)

• Upside Down (video)

• Upside Down 2 (video)

• Winning Your Love (video)

• Winning Your Love 2 (video)

2005

• Authentic Mama (video)

• Bandit Queen (video)

• Bandit Queen 2 (video)

• Behind Closed Doors (video)

• Behind Closed Doors 2 (video)

• Crying Angel (video)

• Crying Angel 2 (video)

• Dangerous Blood (video)

• Dangerous Blood 2 (video)

• Divided Kingdom (video)

• Divided Kingdom 2 (video)

• End of Dreams (video)

• End of Dreams 2 (video)

• Good News (video)

• Good News 2 (video)

• Heavy Storm 2 (video)

• I Need a Man (video)

• I Need a Man 2 (video)

• Ladies World (video)

• Ladies World 2 (video)

• Love Is a Game (video)

• Love Is a Game 2 (video)

• Men at War (video)

• Men at War 2 (video)

• My Business (video)

• Rings of Fire (video)

• Rings of Fire 2 (video)

• Royal Palace (video)

• Saving the Crown (video)

• Shock (video)

• Shock 2 (video)

• Soul on Fire (video)

• Soul on Fire 2 (video)

• The Corridors of Power (video)

• The Corridors of Power 2 (video)

• The Corridors of Power 3 (video)

• Torn Apart (video)

• Torn Apart 2 (video)

• Ways of the Heart (video)

• Ways of the Heart 2 (video)

• What a Mother... (video)

• What a Mother... 2 (video)

• What a Mother... 3 (video)

• Women in Power (video)

• Women in Power 2 (video)

• You & I Forever (video)

• You & I Forever 2 (video)

2004

• Annabel (video)

• Annabel 2 (video)

• Eyin Oka (video)

• Eyin Oka 2 (video)

• Fateful Love (video)

• Fateful Love 2 (video)

• Heritage (video)

• Heritage 2 (video)

• Indulgence (video)

• Indulgence 2 (video)

• Love After Love (video)

• Love & Pride (video)

• Love & Pride 2 (video)

• Mama-G in America (video)

• Mama, I Will Die for You (video)

• Millionaire's Daughter (video)

• Millionaire's Daughter 2 (video)

• Mothers-in-Law (video)

• My First Love (video)

• My First Love 2 (video)

• My Mother My Marriage (video)

• My Mother My Marriage 2 (video)

• My Woman (video)

• Old School 2 (video)

• Old School 3 (video)

• Police Woman (video)

• The Staff of Odo (video)

• The Staff of Odo 2 (video)

2003

• Rats (video)

• Arrows (video)

• Arrows 2 (video)

• Billionaires Club (video)

• Billionaires Club 2 (video)

• Billionaires Club 3 (video)

• Blood Sister (video)

• Blood Sister 2 (video)

• By His Grace (video)

• Cry No More (video)

• Deceiver (video)

• Emotional Crack (video)

• Evil Woman (video)

• Forever Yours (video)

• Forever Yours 2 (video)

• Last Miracle (video)

• Market Sellers (video)

• Market Sellers 2 (video)

• Mr. Trouble (video)

• Mr. Trouble 2 (video)

• No Nonsense (video)

• Onunaeyi: Seeds of Bondage (video)

• Price of the Wicked (video)

• Price of the Wicked 2 (video)

• Princess Buttem (video)

• Private Sin (video)

• Private Sin 2 (video)

• The Cross of Love (video)

• The Cross of Love 2 (video)

• The Storm Is Over (video)

• The Storm Is Over 2 (video)

• Under Fire (video)

• Women Affair (video)

2002

• $1: One Dollar (video)

• Christian Marriage (video)

• Fire on the Mountain (video)

• Fire on the Mountain 2 (video)

• Miracle (video)

• Miracle 2 (video)

• Okwu na uka (video)

• Old School (video)

• Pretender (video)

• Pretender 2 (video)

• Submission (video)

• Sunrise (video)

• Sunrise 2 (video)

• The Final Clash (video)

• The Final Clash 2 (video)

2001

• Desperadoes (video)

• Desperadoes 2 (video)

• Greedy Genius (video)

• Greedy Genius 2 (video)

• Mothering Sunday (video)

• Terrible Sin (video)

• Terrible Sin 2 (video)

1995

• Ukwa (video)

• Ukwa 2 (video)