Firm, theatre company partner to empower Akwa Ibom youths

Anchor Insurance will, this April partner The Duke of Shomolu for the performance of Ibiom: When Doves Fly.

The play, which features Ini Edo, will also see Professor Ahmed Yerima, former General Manager of the National Theatre, carry out an extensive theatre clinic for youths.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Anchor Insurance, Augustine Osegha Ebose, said the need to strengthen Nigeria’s cultural ethos through good platforms as provided by this exciting play cannot be deemphasised hence they are involved

He went on to state that his organisation, as a socially responsible corporate citizen, was further buoyed to be part of this initiative by the offer for the free theatre clinic, which will see highly esteemed Prof. Yerima fly into Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital to engage over 500 youths in a three day fully packed session. The sessions will see the academic take interested youths through the fine rudiments of theatre from costuming, dance, elucidation and more.

According to Joseph Edgar, who is an investment banker and theatre producer, the play offers not only the people of Akwa Ibom but “Nigerians as a whole opportunity to better delineate our history, putting it within the right context while packaging it to serve as a trigger towards an effective renaissance in the country.”

The play, he said, “would tell a perfect story of courage and love. It would also pull together all the ethnic groups that make up Akwa Ibom State while also engaging Arochukwu people of Abia State, who share a historical lineage.

It will expose audiences to a wide and varying kaleidoscope of colours, costumes, cuisines, loving folk tales in a sweet mix of sporadic dances carefully curated to elicit spontaneous appreciation from audiences. Over 50 different dances will envelope the prestigious Ibom Hall in Uyo as over 25 actors and dancers take to the stage.

Edgar concluded that the performances would be executed under very strict COVID-19 guidelines, as the famed Ibom Hall will only take 30 per cent of its usual capacity hence the plan to stream the show live to a wider audience globally.

Already, the producers have received clearance from the Akwa Ibom Hospitality and Tourism Board, The States Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the States Ministry of Information.