Features
Harnessing The Potential Of Theatre For Dev
The celebration of the
2014 edition of the World Theatre Day in Rivers State has come and gone, but it memoirs re-echo in the minds of stakeholders, experts and other adherents of the arts. The event which was the 51st edition globally, debuted in Rivers State, after several decades of establishing the premier and institutional Council of Arts and Culture in the state. The celebration of the World Theatre Day, for the first time in Rivers State, at the instance of the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, and Street Ping’s Entertainment therefore availed stakeholders the opportunity to review the state of the theatre and arts development in the state.
The stakeholders generally recognised the theatre as a potent platform of entertainment and a channel of conveying messages, emotions, feelings, wealth creation and transmitting of socio-cultural values in the state, but decried the lack of proper investment in the theatre to attain its institutional objectives. Concerns were also raised by the stakeholders over the need to sustain the vision of the founding fathers in the state in establishing a Council for Arts and Culture in Rivers State, to harness and manage the diverse cultural potentials of Rivers State for sustainable mutual co-existence.
The need for rejuvenation of the theatre in Rivers State was anchored on the theme of the celebration; “The power of theatre to strengthen Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding Across borders”.
Presenting a special lecture at the event which was held at the temporary office of Rivers State Council of Arts and Culture at Agbani Darego Centre in Port Harcourt. A university don and theatre arts practitioner, Prof Henry Bell-Gam said the theatre was critical to the development of any society.
He said celebrated play wrights such as, John Pepper Clarke, Elechi Amadi, Prof. Wole Soyinka, among others, had impacted the society positively through their satirical plays and other master pieces.
Prof. Bell-Gam, who is the present Dean of Student’s Affairs at the University of Port Harcourt, called for the total overhaul of the theatre in Rivers State and Nigeria in general. To sustain the drive for excellence in theatre, the university don, said, “Theatre Arts programmes should be entrepreneur-based to boost self employment, theatre arts graduates should also be encouraged to stage plays against corruption, cultism and other vices”.
Also speaking at the event, the pioneer Executive Director of the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, Chief Uriel O. Paul-Worika, said the projection of the theatre and arts development in Rivers State has come a long way. He said the vision of establishing the state arts council was to foster a cultural identity for Rivers people, to promote mutual coexistence among the people and enhance creativity and artistic development in the state”.
The euphoria was savoured, as the people basked in the celebration of the diverse cultural elements, flavourd by the aesthetics and peculiarities of the existing cultural backgrounds in the state. It was a new dawn of socio-cultural liberation, and there was prospect of growth in all the components under the mandate of the state Council for Arts and Culture, such as, culture, tourism and the theatre.
However, Paul-Worika observed that the vision of the founding fathers in establishing the council suffered setback under successive administrations in the state, due to obsession for western precepts and values, which undermines indigenous development”.
Also an assessment of the various sectors of the entertainment industry in Rivers State indicates a disparity in terms of growth and development.
While tourism and culture is boosted through the institutionalisation of CARNIRIV in Rivers State, the development of the indigenous Theatre appears stundted, and the prospect of stage theatre in the state is stifled.
For instance, while the World Tourism Day is celebrated yearly in pomp and funfare in the state, the World Theatre day is witnessing its maiden edition in the state decades after the establishment of the state Arts Council.
To ensure a holistic development in all the components of the entertainment sector in the state, stakeholders are canvassing for equal investment in tourism, culture and the theatre. A theatre Arts Practitioner and Chairman Rivers State Council of RATTAWU, Mrs Opakrite Erekosima who spoke with The Tide on the issue said the theatre has equal potentials and opportunities of development as any related sector.
He reasoned that “investment opportunities in the state theatre will enhance the creative talents of budding artists and also create job opportunities for them”.
He called for the re-establishment of exhibition theatres in the state to “promote our indigenous heritage”.
Commenting on the development of the Theatre in Rivers State, Executive Director, of the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, Chief Deede Baede, also canvassed for more investment in the theatre.
Chief Baede who described Rivers State as the cetnre piece of artistic and cultural development in Nigeria faulted the ideology that cultural and theatrical performance was fetish practice.
He said such apathy has affected the development in the sector and called for a change of attitude, to save our culture from dying.
Rather, Chief Baede said the theatre was a distinctive career that required high intellectual base to practice.
“If you are not intelligent you can’t be in the theatre because you must interpret scripts, most people see the theatre as juju worshipping, it is not so.
We need to appreciate our culture and revive it from going extinct, any government that does not invest in culture and indigenous arts is not appreciating the fact of its black existence”.
The director added that “contemporary theatre should be projected on indigenous inspiration to mobilize towards the creation of an amalgamated sense of cultural identity”.
According to the director, such artworks “enhance the quality of life by augmenting our sense of asthetics and fostering greater perceptivity of ourselves and heritage”.
The director also sees theatre as a platform for national integration. “When theatre specifically focus on aspects of Nigeria heritage, it raises our national consciousness and create an enduring sense of patriotism”.
The executive director, assured the commitment of the state Arts Council in sustaining the vision of the founding fathers. He said the building of a new state of the arts facility by the present administration for the Arts Council will boost the productive capacity of staff when put to use. As part of its efforts in the revitalization of the council, he said, an annual arts exhibition was launched last year in conjunction with Rivers State indigenous artists to showcase relevant artistic work in the state, adding that this year’s edition of world theatre day was remarkable, as it would raise awareness in the development of the theatre in Rivers State.
Speaking at the flag off of the arts exhibition in Port Harcourt, last November, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Grace Akpugunum, said the exhibition was apt as it would promote competition and creativity among the artists. The permanent secretary also called for a collaborative effort in the promotion of arts development in Rivers State.
Another area where the indigenous development of the theatre appears to be entangled is in the area of education. There has been a fundamental contradiction in the use and application of education for the promotion of indigenous artistry. Rather than using education to promote our culture through an indigenization policy, education had been used as a ruse to undermine the indigenous theatre, with an obsession for western values on the notion that everything African is inferior and outdated.
Veteran historian, Prof E.J. Alagoa, sees such concept as “erroneous as only fools can yield to its blandishment”. He noted that “education only opens our frontiers but do not deny us our originality and the west envies the artistic beauty of the black race because of its spectacular features”.
Shakespeare summarises the essence of theatre when he stated in one of his works that; “The purpose of acting is to hold the mirrow up to nature”.
This Shakespearian philosophy implies that the theatre can be used to mold the cultural identity of a people.
The localization of the theatre in Rivers State is therefore of major concern in the drive for promoting the cultural and linguistic identity of the people.
Artists should therefore use their work to foster self awareness and project the cultural heritage of Rivers people for national and international reckoning. To achieve this feat, their artistry must go beyond passive and routine indulgences, but anchored on creativity and professional delivery.
Executive Director of the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, Chief Deede Baede, receiving an award on behalf of Captain Elechi Amadi, presented by Rivers State Chairman of RATTAWU, Mrs O. P. Erekosimia during the 2014 edition of World Theatre Day in Port Harcourt, recently.
Taneh Beemene
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku
