Practitioners of Theatre for Development (TfD) have been advised to curt the partnership of stake holders in the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, to broaden their vistas and effectively communicate with the populace.
This call came at a Round Table session at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, at the 24th edition of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA) Annual Conference, with the theme, “Nollywood and Theatre for Development (TfD): Exploring the Bridges of Interaction.”
Participants at the Round Table, which was moderated by the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, observed that it is possible for TfD and Nollywood practitioners to work together, and that for there to be a veritable synergy, those involved in TfD should initiate and sustain the collaboration, considering the fact that the Nigerian film industry is privately and commercially driven and will be the senior partner.
It was also observed that some Nollywood producers have actually dealt on issues of interest to TfD and that the platform could be further explored for such productions as part of their social responsibility without losing sight of the entertaining objective of the film medium.
Discussants at the Round Table, which Dr. Ayakoroma described as the best he had participated in the last five SONTA Annual Conferences, include, Mr. Michael Etherton, Professor Dapo Adelugba, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, Professor Jane Plastow, Professor Onookome Okome, Professor Oga Steve Abah, Professor Jenks Okwori, Professor Ayo Akinwale, Professor Segun Ojewuyi, Mr. Emeke Mba (D-G, National Film and Video Censors Board), Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Mr. Obi Okoli, Dr. Tor Iorapuu, Dr. Alex Asigbo, Dr. Tracie Utoh-Ezeajugh, Dr. Diran Ademiju-Bepo, Hajia Lantana Ahmed, Greg Mbajiorgu, and Arnold Udoka, among others.
(c) Nico news