A playwright and actress, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, on Thursday appealed to stakeholders in the arts sector to create platforms for the training of young people in the theatre and film industry.
Graham-Douglas told newsmen in Lagos that catching artists young would enable them to learn fast and become professionals.
She said there was the need to establish theatre arts’ schools where experienced practitioners could train the youths in the sector.
She said that most of the tertiary institutions did not have people that could be classified as hands-on- the-job.
“Unfortunately, there is also a handful of professional schools and this is an impediment.
“Having more theatre schools will be the right thing to do to train our young people in the arts sector.
“If we have these professional schools, it will enhance the contribution of arts to Nigeria’s economy,’’ she said.
The actress recalled that in her secondary school days at Abonnema in Rivers, drama was a vital part of the school.
“It is from there that I discovered my special interest and love for drama; and I made up my mind that I was going to explore it later in life.
“I was exposed to drama at a very young age; it was part of our curriculum then and we had our drama and dance teachers.
“We were able to understand what performing and other arts are,’’ she said.
Graham-Douglas, however, expressed doubt if drama, dance and others still formed many primary and secondary schools’ curriculum at present.
“If young people develop the passion for dance, acting and other arts, where do they go to train and learn them?
“Our educational system needs an overhaul; many things need to change in our educational scheme.
“For the arts to be recognised, it has to be a very integral part of the educational structure.
“It has to be an important part of the educational system in Nigeria,’’ she said.
She urged the government at all levels to address the issue.
“Let government change the policy and make arts a core subject because arts is important in our curriculum. It uses to be in the past, “she said.
Our correspondent reports that Graham-Douglas is the founder and the CEO of Beeta Universal Arts Foundation.
She is a playwright, a producer, businesswoman and an awards winning Nigerian actress.
She had acted in “Flower Girl” and “Lunch Time Heroes” movies.