SONTA president, Asigbo commends Niger Delta University on preparations for 2019 conference

President of Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), Professor Alex Chinwuba Asigbo, has commended members of staff of the Department of Theatre Arts, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, for constituting the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of SONTA 2019, scheduled to hold in October/November next year.

According to Asigbo, constituting the LOC in less than two weeks after the hosting right was given to NDU at SONTA conference held at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) from October 31 through November 3, 2018, “is an indication that SONTA NDU-Bayelsa 2019 promises to be a memorable event.”

A statement from Chairman, Marketing and Publicity Subcommittee, SONTA NDU-Bayelsa 2019, Dr. Tam Azorbo, noted that SONTA president has advised the Head of Department, Dr. Ben Binebai and the LOC members to draw from the wealth of experience of senior colleagues, especially SONTA Editor, Professor Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who, as Executive Secretary/CEO of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), hosted SONTA 2015 laudably.

While expressing joy regarding the novel development, Ayakoroma said he had implicit confidence in Binebai and SONTA NDU-Bayelsa 2019 LOC members, adding that it had never happened before for a new host to hit the ground running in less than two weeks after a previous event. He noted that it was an indication the host’s commitment to deliver on a memorable conference.

SONTA NDU-Bayelsa 2019 LOC, which has Binebai as convener, is made up of Dr. Christine Odi as chairperson, Dr. Kenneth Eni as secretary, Dr. Sunday Abraye as member/chairman, transport and logistics subcommittee, Dr. Rudolph Kansese as member/chairman, entertainment and performance subcommittee, Dr. Azorbo as member/chairman, marketing and publicity subcommittee, Dr. Akpos Adesi as member/fundraising, Mr. Charles Tambou as member/fundraising, and Mr. Kingsley Ineritei as member/security and protocols.

Meanwhile, SONTA President, Asigbo, has disclosed that as it is statutory, SONTA 2019 LOC is expected to host SONTA EXCO for an interactive meeting in the first quarter of 2019 in order to look at preliminary plans for various aspects of the conference scheduled for the last quarter of 2019.