Entertainment
NGO Tasks Govt On Talent Hunt …As RSUST Holds Drama Clash
A Port Harcourt based
Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mighty Youths Against Destructive Decisions (MYADD) Int’l has emphasised the need for government to embark on talent hunt among the youths in tertiary institutions particularly in the areas of drama, music and dance.
The Director of the Organisation, Mr. Mark Sokwiabe in an interview with The Tide Entertainment expressed the need for government to catch them young and direct them positively towards attainment of their goals. He said the youths are positive thinkers and amiable to change through learning. So they should be directed properly, and government has a major role to play in this respect.
He stressed that Nollywood is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria, by grooming the young talents they will be able to take over from the older ones with opportunities for self employment.
Mr. Sokwiade who was the Chief Judge at the recently held Rivers State University of Science and Technology Nkpolu, (RSUST) Drama Clash observed that the growth of theatre arts in Rivers State is encouraging, but government and the private sector should invest more in the sector. They should emulate Lagos, Delta and other States by encouraging the budding talents through sponsorship, ideas and logistics.
On the “Drama Clash”, he described the competition as quite revealing and captivating. He said it was important to support the youths in talent utilisation in order to groom them to stardom and boost the bargaining power of the indigenous stars in the industry.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.