……..solicit govt support for industry
The Kwara State Chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Chief Adetohun Adebayo Ajala has appealed to Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq to provide adequate modern facilities that would enhance entertaining businesses in the state.
Ajala also charged the Government to accord entertaining industry with utmost priority and see the sector as a good avenue for poverty reduction as it has the capacity to provide job opportunities to the teeming unemployed youth in Kwara state.
The AGN Chairman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Moyinnet Entertainment and Information Technology Solution, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at the State Arts Council, Geri Alimi road, on the proposed programme titled, ‘Kwara Arts Project’ packaged by AGN.
He explained that the stage play titled, “Pray For Me(Pray For Us) “under the AGN maiden edition of “Kwara Art Project ” programme is expected to come up today (Mrch 22, 2020) at the Arts Council by 4:00pm with free gate fee, saying that the drama is an initiative of Kwara AGN in collaboration with TAMPAN Kwara State Chapter.
He added, “among reasons for staging the play is to foster unity among Artists, to make Kwara Artists more relevant , for increase in creativity and out-of-the-box thinking and for improved welfare of members.”
The Chairman described Entertainment industry as one of the largest employers of labour in the country owning to its various departments contained in the industry.
He said, “if Kwara State Government could invest in Entertainment industry, it would go a long way in reducing social vices, and also assisting in the dissemination of informations that would add values to the lives of the people especially the youth”.
Ajala confirmed that Kwara State is blessed with professionals and experts in film Acting, Music Composing, Film Directing, Dancing and Singing, but the greatest challenge is failure of the people to be recognised and patronised.
According to him, “most of the professionals in the entertainment industry are Kwarans, and the State has produced so many professionals that they were even notice from here, but those that we have in the State today were not dully appreciated”.
The AGN Chairman also identified funding and another major problems confronting entertainment industry in the State. “Despite the fact that we have qualified intelligent personnel in our organization funding is our greatest challenge ” he said.
He however appealed to parents and guardians to always encourage their children to choose any of the sections of the Entertainment Industry as their career, pointing out that Entertaining business is not for riff-raff or nuisance contrary to what some people considered it to be.
“Many Nigerians have received both local and international recognition through their involvement in Entertainment Industry. Somebody like Mr Olu Jacob, Elder Peter Fatomilola , among other distinguished personalities have taken the name of Nigeria to all the nooks and crannies of the globe through Entertainment Industry ,and the country is really appreciating them for being good ambassadors of the country.
He then called on various traditional rulers, Muslims and Christian Clerics, and other well meaning people to continue to support the industry with all the necessary assistance that would take the business to the greater heights.
He also called on the Government to choose Entertainment Industry as an important medium for dissemination of necessary and relevant information on how the people can manage and protect themselves against diseases and sickness such as Corona virus among others.
