Notable Nollywood actor, Stephen Alajemba, widely recognized as Uwaezuoke, has openly expressed his deep admiration for the legendary movie icon, Pete Edochie. Alajemba passionately emphasized Orihedịmma’s pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Igbo cinema and the enduring legacy he has maintained since the industry's inception.
Uwaezuoke, without hesitation, acknowledged Pete Edochie's revered status in the industry, despite maintaining a firm stance on the matter. He specifically pointed to Edochie's seniority with respect and highlighted his iconic portrayal in “Things Fall Apart” as a cornerstone of his lasting influence.
In his own words, Uwaezuoke shared, “When you talk about the Igbo movie industry, Mike Orihedịmma is the first person to be mentioned. He is the one that trained most of the people you see acting today. He was emulated by Kenneth Nnebue and Pauloo in writing ‘Living In Bondage.’ When it comes to the movie industry, the only person I respect is Pete Edochie. All the people in the movie industry today, anybody that says he is older than me in the industry, should tell us the first movie he did and what year it came out. It is only Pete Edochie that I can say that he is older than me because of Things Fall Apart.”