DG advises Nigerian children to develop their creative talents

 

 

 

 

 

Children at their craft

 

Talents

Lagos, Aug. 14, 2013. The Director-General (DG), National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Martins Adaji, has urged parents, school principals and all tiers of government to encourage the Nigerian children to develop their creative talents.

Adaji who made the call on Wednesday, in Lagos, added that the talent of the Nigerian children was nurtured through their creative ability.

The DG spoke against the backdrop of this year’s performing arts creativity organise yearly by the agency for children to showcase their talents in arts.

The DG also said that the workshop was aimed at developing children’s interest in Nigeria not just as citizens but also as future leaders.

This year’s programme has as its theme: ``Arise Nigeria``.

This is the 4^th edition of the Creative Children Station Workshop (CCSW) of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

Adaji said: ``it is high time we started grooming them young``.

``We want the children to learn our cultural dances, plays and songs and a whole lot, to make them know that they have a culture to fall back to.

``We also blend contemporary and modern dance with whatever they do to make it easier for them.

``The children are very eager to learn various performing arts and are happy to always come every long holidays to do that, `` he said.

Adaji said that the workshop was designed to engage the Nigerian child during the long vacation, adding, ``we want to make them know that hard work pays``.

Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, OON. Former Secretary for State of Women Affairs under the Abacha administration said that it is so beautiful to see what the children are doing through the arts.

``Theatre bring out the potentials in children, most of us are surprised and we are happy and have confidence that what they are imparted on can lead them on towards the national development.

``it is like a replay race handing over the baton gradually to the next generation at the right time, the weak hands are handing over to the stronger ones.

``So that our country would develop. It is about our culture and the children will learn and develop our culture,” she said.

A business woman, Mrs Emily Aig-Imoukhede, who was the mother of the day, said she was surprised at what she witnessed children doing.

``Indeed, there is a great change and improvement in the theatre arts sector for the children.

``I congratulate NTN for what they are doing for the children, out one month.

``It would really make them better persons in future,” she added.

She suggested awards for the children for dancers, singers and mementos for them to be a thing of remembrance for them.

”The River Between” is a theatrical re-enactment of the socio-political reality in Nigeria told from the imaginative eye of a child.

The play stands as a metaphor of a country where there are so many conflicts as a result of personal gains over national goal.

 

 

 

Nigeria's Motion Picture Industry, dynamic - Duke

 

 

 

The Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industry


Lagos, Aug. 16, 2013 The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, said on Friday, that the Nigerian Motion Picture Industry (MPI) was a dynamic tool for promotion of Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy.

Duke said this at a lecture organised by the National Institute of Cultural Orientation (NICO) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos.

He said that the Nigerian’s film industry had witnessed phenomenal growth in the last couple of years.

 ``It is now ranked the second largest in the world, and there is no arguing the fact,’’ the minister said.

The theme of the lecture is: `Nollywood as an Instrument for Nigeria’s Cultural Diplomacy: Reflections of a Cultural Administrator."

``Films are cultural products and assets considered the most influential medium for entertainment and education.

``It behoves us to take advantage of it to launder our international image and also draw attention to Nigeria as a fascinating tourism destination.

``It is imperative that stakeholders see themselves as our cultural ambassadors and work assiduously to use film as a medium to project Nigeria positively to the international community, ‘’ Duke said.

The minister said that the Federal Government was much concerned about the challenges confronting the film industry.

On the issue of piracy and copyright infringement, Duke said government was doing everything possible to check the menace so that stakeholders could fully reap the fruits of their labour.

Prof. Ayo Akinwale of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, in his lecture, urged the Nigerian filmmakers to pay attention to the nation’s cultural diplomacy when producing films.

He said that some of the films paid due attention to the nation’s cultural diplomacy, while many did not.

Akinwale predicted a brighter future for the Nollywood industry if necessary attention was paid to production of good films.

``For a film to sell, it must be aware of its exportation capabilities, language, costumes and emotional interaction or else it will not contribute anything to the nation’s cultural diplomacy.

``There is need to correct all the errors that we have noticed in our production. Such errors that came as a result of putting commerce before excellence in production must be addressed,’’ he said.

The don suggested that attention should be paid to content, script writing, artiste welfare and professionalism.

 

NICO graduates 217 students of Culture and Languages

 

 

Edem Duke, Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism




Convocation

Lagos, Aug. 17, 2013. The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), on Saturday, graduated 217 students who have satisfied the minimum requirements in character and learning various languages of Nigeria.

They are awarded the Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration in the three Nigerian languages they learned; Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa respectively.

The event which took place at the National Theatre, in Lagos witnessed the graduate class of 2008 to 2012 language class getting certificates of study.

NICO was established by Act 93 of 1993 by the Federal Government of Nigeria in accordance with the objectives of the World Decade for Cultural Development (WDCD) declared by by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

It is to teach and learn languages of the host country to forester unity and peace.

The Minster of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, said that human capital development is strategic to the socio-economic development of the country.

``And manpower development has been recognised globally as a critical factor in realisation of corporate goals and objectives to enhance economic growth.

``Investing in culture is critical as it is targeted at ensuring that the nation’s human resources endowment, which is knowledgeable, skilled productive are healthy for the growth of the economy.

``It is to ensure optimal exploitation and utilisation of other resources from arts and culture and tourism to engender growth and development,” he said.

Duke also said that policy formulation and implementation are likely to suffer setbacks if the human capital is deficient or ill-equipped for the task ahead.

``Our sector has been identified as one of the major growth drivers for the achieving the nations vision and transformation agenda of the present administration.

``It is one of the reasons that informed our recent launch of the nation’s tourism brand ``Fascinating Nigeria”.

``If the target of diversifying the nation’s economic base is to be met cultural officers, should be adequately trained and informed in line with the goals and visions of the government.

The Chairman Committee on Arts, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Ben Nwankwo, representing Orumba North and South, Anambra state, said that Nigeria is a blessed country with many languages that ``we have to be proud of”

He said that, ``our unity in diversity should be the watch word but that we are allowing other people to separate us.

``We should be grateful for the unity of purpose and tribe and tongue may differ but in brotherhood we stand”

``God gave us what other countries didn’t have and we should protect, propagate and find ways to use it to the benefit of all.

He pointed out that Nigeria has all it takes to be one and we should endeavour to be tolerant and learn other people’s languages and culture to foster unity.

The D-G, NICO, Barclays Ayakoroma said making culture central and bedrock for national development would highlight and harness the nation’s cultural resources for economic growth.

He noted that United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Japan and others achieve what they are now by investing in human capital development predicated on strong cultural foundations.

``Intensive cultural training and understanding of it is a panacea to most of the problems we face as a nation.

``From security of lives and property, massive unemployment, nonstructural decay and lack of trust for one another can be adequately tackled through better understanding and appreciation of the potentials inherent in our culture.

He opined that most Nigerians today believed that our problems are products of the neglect of our cultural values.

``A better understanding and appreciation of our cultures will go a long way in addressing our challenges as a nation that is why the cultural orientation and languages,” he added.

 

Musicians urge to use songs in reforming society

Music


Lagos, Aug. 20, 2013. A musician, Edaoto Agbeniyi, on Tuesday urged Nigerian musicians to sing on social issues in order to reform the society.

Edaoto said in Lagos that every musician could make the nation better by speaking to people through songs.

``We should use our God-given musical talents to do so.

``What I always tell my colleagues is that we should look backward, go and study history and see those things that make us who we are.

``Our culture is our identity. We have a good culture that can get us to where we are going to, ‘’ the musician said.

Edaoto said that his encounter with the late music icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti impacted on him and his music

``In my music, I sing about social issues. It is to tell the world about the need to live well and be at peace with each other.

``The underlying message is utmost love for humanity,’’ he said.

Edaoto, whose musical carrier started in 1996, said that he was into afro-beat music.

He said that in the nearest future, he would further improve but now he was advancing the cause of Afro beat.

Edaoto said that his latest album had reached advanced stage of production.

He said, ``We are thinking about eight tracks and I get my inspiration from my environment.’’

Edaoto, also an actor, had featured in many stage plays and films.

 

 

11Nigerian poets to compete for CORA/NLNG Prize for Literature

Poetry


Lagos, Aug. 20, 2013. Eleven Nigerian poets have been short listed out of over 200 to compete for this year’s CORA/NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature.

The President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Prof. Remi Raji said on Tuesday in Lagos that the winner would receive a prize of $100,000 (about N16 Million).

Some Nigerian poets competing for the prize are: Iquo Eke; Amu Nnadi; Promise Ogochukwu and Remi Raji.

Raji described the competition as very engaging and involving.

He urged young poets to study hard if they must live up to the billing of being a poet.

``Many people pretend to be poets but it does not work that way.

``If you really want to come up, you must listen to people who teach about what you do, you must read and you must be ready to be influenced.

``There are many people who appear on Social Media, they will just write one or two lines and say that they are poets.

``Or they think that poetry is just a reality show; it takes a lot of work to be there,’’ Raji said.

He said that for those ones that wanted to come up, some of them were really hard working and were doing well.

``I know we have many others spread all over the country but I wish them the best,’’ Raji said.

He appealed to all tiers of governments and corporate organisations to support and encourage writers in the country.

``As a body, we constantly engage governments at all levels, urging them to encourage writers by instituting workshop, residence programmes and seminars to help make youths interested in writing,’’ he said.

 

60 years on stage: Jazz lovers honour Victor Olaiya

 

 

Olaiya

Lagos, Aug. 21, 2013 In an effort to promote indigenous music for global relevance, NAIJAZZ Music on Tuesday night in Lagos organised a musical concert in honour of the legendary highlife musician, Victor Olaiya.

Olaiya has spent more than 60 years on stage.

The Founder of NAIJAZZ Music, ace jazz promoter, Ayoola Sadare, said at the event that Olaiya was a recurring decimal in the highlife music scene.

He said that the contributions of the musician could not be neglected.

``He is no doubt a reference point for other Nigerian musicians; his music is evergreen, fresh and relevant.

``His music can be regarded as our own jazz standards, which when properly achieved, would be a reference point for generations to come,’’ he said.

Sadare said that the honour was in pursuit of the organisation’s vision of redefining and restoring Nigerian music to its glorious position.

Sadare urged that the Stadium Hotel, where Olaiya had performed many times, should be considered as a tourist monument.

He gave the assurance that the company would honour other musical legends in the country.

When Olaiya mounted the stage to perform, his signature glittering trumpet and sparkling white handkerchief were conspicuous.

He took full command of his band which included his son, Bayode, and effortlessly sang most of his songs one after the other.

The excited response from the audience was expected as they danced to each tune which took them down the memory lane.

Olaiya was not given any plaque but different jazz lovers gathered in his honour to play highlife and jazz for him.

Olaiya told NAN that he was happy to be honoured and celebrated by lovers of his music.

``My wish is to keep highlife going, and for the younger generation to embrace it.

Olaiya, a native of Ijesa-Isu in Ekiti, was born on Dec. 13, 1930 in Calabar.

His songs have, over the years, endeared him to many Nigerians.

Some of his songs are: ‘Omo pupa’, `It’s time for highlife’ and `Baby jowo’.

Olaiya’s genre of music was extremely famous from the 50s to early 80s. (OmenwaN)

 

PMAN in search of new secretariat

 

 

PMAN

Lagos, Aug. The National Secretary of the Performing Musicians Employers' Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kenny George, said on Thursday that the association was now in need of a secretariat.

George said this in Lagos that the association needed offices in Lagos and Abuja, to enable it to be able to function effectively.

He said that the former secretariat of the association in Ikeja had been taken over by the owners of the property.

George was, however, silent on why the association was asked to vacate its former secretariat.

He said: ``I don’t have much to tell you now, but we are trying to put everything together and call the media to brief them on this and other issues.’’

FG urged to eliminate piracy in music industry

Piracy

Lagos, Aug. 26, 2013 The Chief Executive Officer of Square Records, Jude Okoye, on Monday urged the Federal Government to assist in eliminating piracy in the music industry.

Okoye said this in Lagos that piracy had become a major problem in the music industry.

``All we are asking the government to do is to recognise that the industry would thrive more if it assists the practitioners in fighting piracy,’’ he said.

Okoye said that the Nigerian Copyright Commission should do more in fighting piracy.

``We have laid a good foundation in the music industry. I don’t know what is going to happen next if piracy is not checked,’’ the producer said.

Okoye who manages the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye-- popularly known as `P-Square’-- said that piracy was not a menace an individual could fight.

``I cannot take the law into my hands by walking from one shop to another in Alaba Market, for instance, to stop people from selling pirated CDs.

``It is the role of government to do so,’’ he said.

Okoye noted that government would make a lot of money through tax and would also create employment if it stopped piracy.

He said that if government failed to intervene, musicians would have to sell their albums at give-away prices to marketers.

 

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