Ibidun Allison, Actress and Broadcaster

Born in Sapele, Nigeria, on December 24, 1941, Veronica Ibidun Allison (nee) Folakan is best know as the soap opera gossip Amebo from The Village Headmaster that aired on Nigerian television from 1968 to 1993. Ibidun played the role of Amebo from 1970 until the end of the show's run.
What 'Amebo' in Nigerian means is gossip but that is not true. She does not gossip. She does not lie. She only tells what is going to happen and it will eventually happen and if she says it has happened, it has happened, she just embellishes it. She makes the thing good, sweet or scary. What ever she says is the truth. -- This Day Style, June 14, 2009.

Ibidun's acting career took off in 1954, when she played the role of one of the witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth on stage and performed several other plays in her school Holy Child College in Lagos and won a prize at the Festival of the Arts, that same year. She sang Negro Spirituals on Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBS) while she was still in school. Her familiarity with songs and lyrics increased when she worked in the Record Library of WNBS/WNTV in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1960, compiling music programmes. Ibidun’s TV career took off in 1961 as a TV host for Children’s programme on WNTV Ibadan and performed in the first ever live drama on any African Television.

In 1962, Ibidun was awarded a Federal Government Scholarship to proceed to England to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she graduated in Speech and Drama. She went on to The London School of Television Production and got a Certificate in TV Production in 1966. She was presenter of the BBC African Service programme, “Calling Nigeria”, a member of cast of the BBC African Service monthly drama production, a member of the panel of the BBC Home Service Radio Programme “The Verdict Is Yours”. Ibidun featured in the Central Office of Information Documentary “Portraits” which portrayed the life of a Commonwealth student in Britain. The Documentary was aired in the English speaking African countries in the mid- sixties. In 1965, she took part in the Commonwealth Arts Festival in England. She was a member of the West African Drama Group in London.

On Ibidun’s return to Nigeria in 1966, she worked as an announcer with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation , a Copywriter with Lintas Nigeria and acted in several radio programmes i.e.” The Adventures of Alao, The Master Driver” or if you like Shaky Shaky and Alao, Women! That’s My Business, Money Miss Road, John Fadina, - The Hairdresser, to mention a few. She hosted music programmes on TV and was the first host of a live band performance (I.K. Dairo and his Blue Spots Band) with ANIKE AGBAJE-WILLIAMS as producer in 1960. Ibidun was presenter Children’s Programme on Nigeria Television, Lagos from 1970-1973. She also acted in the monthly drama programmes on Nigeria Television.

In 1970 in Lagos, to mark the 10th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence from Britain, Ibidun played the lead role in the stage play ANOWA written by Ama Atta Aido, a Ghanaian playwright. It was produced by Segun Olusola. This role brought her to the attention of the creator of “The Village Headmaster” Segun Olusola himself.
Subsequently, Ibidun was given the role of AMEBO in the TV Soap, “The Village Headmaster”.

In 1974, Ibidun featured in the motion picture “Countdown At Kusini” with Ossie Davies, Ruby Dee, Jab Adu, late Funsho Adeolu and Elsie Olusola among others.
In 1992 she was among the cast that traveled to Italy with Professor Wole Soyinka for the first ever DIONYSIAN DRAMA FESTIVAL which featured one of Soyinka’s plays titled “From Zia With Love”. 15 countries participated in the Festival. Between 1997 and 1998, Ibidun was co-producer for UNICEF’s documentary “Eradication of Guinea Worm in Nigeria”.
In 1996, Ibidun was honored with an award by The THELMA MOVIE AWARDS.
In 2005, The African International Cultural Institute in conjunction with Zenith Bank Plc gave her “A Model Of Achievement” award.
In 2007, she was recognized for her acting, by “Heartlinks Foundation”
In 2009, she received “An Award For Excellence” from The Catholic Association of Media Practitioners- CAMP, Lagos State. Earlier on in 1976, the International body of Catholic Media Practitioners (UNDA/UCIP) nominated Ibidun to attend a six-week refresher course in Oak Leigh TV Centre in England where she interacted with media men and women from different parts of the globe.

From 1999-2000, Veronica Ibidun Allison was Chairman of the sub-committee of the Ceremonials for the African Cup of Nations (CAF), Ghana/Nigeria 2000.
2001-2004- Member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Film Corporation.
2005-2007-Member, Governing Council, Nigerian Copyright Commission.
2003 till date, Ibidun is an Ambassador for the foremost indigenous Nigerian Communications Company, GLOBACOM- Sponsors of both The African Cup of Nations Best Footballer of the Year Awards and the Nigerian Football League.