The Head, Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Nasarawa State, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura has commended the high level of professionalism in the annual NYSC Cultural Festival adding that if well repositioned, it had the potentials to attract partnership from the organised private sector (OPS) and NGOs.
Speaking during the official closing ceremony of the cultural festival as the chief adjudicator of the 2013 edition of festival at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium, Maitama-Abuja, Professor Dandura said that, the festivals had the potentials to engage major sponsorships from the organized private sector, but that it was important “to refocus the cultural festival in such a way as to galvanise the attention and interest of the organised private sector.”
He also affirmed that, having been working in that capacity since 1995, the festival was delivering the dividends it ought to deliver and it showed a lot of promise for the competition and the country at large, stressing that, some of the presentations were as good, if not better than the interpretation of the same dances by the states troupes.
In his recommendation, Dandura called on the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi to refocus and standardize the timing of the festival, and take advantage of the various non-governmental organisations and professional bodies in the theatre profession like the International Theatre Institute (ITI), UNESCO’s apex global non-governmental partner in the performing arts, so as to reposition the festival in line with modern trends and festivals theatre management.
He also urged the Honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and national Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, to reposition the festival for it to be part of the National Tourism Map and by extension be a Global Tourism Map, adding that the festival should be part of the youth component of the Abuja Carnival.
The university don reiterated the need for the publication of the plays presented at the 2nd and 3rd editions of the competition, just as he decried the poor state of the hall in the NYSC Camp in Bwari, which was used for the theatre performances, enjoining the NYSC management to source for befitting venues in Abuja, so give room for members of the public to watch the scintillating performances.
Corps members who distinguished themselves from the crowd were dully rewarded: Best Male Dancer was given to Omoriyi Bosede representing Oyo State; Best Female Dancer went to Vanessa from Akwa Ibom State; Best Female Actress was won by Tolulope Awoyomi from Oyo State; Best Choreographer went to Kelvin Edema from Anambra State; while the award for Best Artistic Director of the competition was given to Olamide Ibrahim from Oyo state.
Njideka J. Dimgba
Corporate Affairs
NICO HQ