Abudu, Ramsey Nouah Invited to Academy Membership

By Vanessa Obioha

After surpassing its goal to double the number of women and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities by 2020, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) through its new goal Academy Aperture 2025 has invited Nigerian

media mogul and filmmaker Mo Abudu (Producer), filmmaker and photographer Andrew Dosunmu (Director) and Nollywood actor Ramsey Nouah (Actor) to join the Academy membership.

The creatives are among the 395 artists and executives which the organisation sent invitations.

In a statement, the Academy disclosed that the membership selection decisions were based on professional qualifications, “with representation, inclusion and equity remaining a priority of Academy Aperture 2025.”

The 2021 class is 46% women, 39% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 53% international from 49 countries outside of the United States. There are 89 Oscar® nominees, including 25 winners, among the invitees.

It added that the number of invitees this year was limited to roughly half that of recent years as a way to “enable steady future growth and to ensure the necessary infrastructure, staff resources and environment to support all Academy members.”

It also said that the Academy’s Board of Governors voted on branch-specific guidelines to be applied in determining this year’s new membership invitees. Oscar winners and nominees were considered without limitation by applicable branches.

Other notable personalities invited include the Malaysian actor Henry Golding, American film director Shaka King and English actress Vanessa Kirby.