Minister backs Village Headmaster 50 years commemoration

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the Ministry will thrown it weight behind the commemoration of Village Headmaster at 50, owing to the role the drama series played in the life of the people in the past, and what it will do if it is brought back to the present day for viewers.

This was made known in a release signed by Secretary of the Planning Committee and one of the surviving legends of the drama series, Dele Osawe popularly known as Teacher Fadele.

“The vintage TV drama series will be 50years old in October 2018 and the surviving members of cast and crew, the NTA and relevant stakeholders would want to commemorate the 50years of the Village Headmaster TV Drama series,” the statement read.

According to Osawe, “presently, history has been relegated to the background; our culture had been bastardized. Corruption is worshiped and glorified in different forms. We have lost our past glory of honesty, integrity and cultural pride.”

He noted that in the time past, when the series aired, families were united under one roof on Sunday and Thursday evenings, and reminded of cultural background. Eh added that all communities started as Village, where tradition and culture play tremendous role in people’s life.

“The colonial masters tapped into our administration and introduced indirect rule, which served as a dangerous weapon that was used to cow down our royal fathers and turned them to toys in the hands of political administrators of today. Corruption took over and reduced us to a society of Naira worshipers instead of God worshiper both in the churches and mosques,” Osawe stated.

He further explained that the Village Headmaster Family with a strong support from the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Nigerian Television of Authority (NTA), and relevant stakeholders, would want to commemorate the 50years of the vintage drama series with events that will benefit the public to compensate for their loyal interest in the programme.

Created by late Chief Segun Olusola, it was packaged, produced and directed by Sanya Dosunmu (now His Royal Majesty the Olowu of Owu). Dosunmu with the cooperation of his friends such as Ted Mukoro, Demola James, Fela Davies, Alex Akinyele, Nelson Olawaye, Alan Aroyewu and others wrote the first 13 episodes of the TV drama.

The Headmaster of Oja Community School western educated and knowledgeable personality, who is always guiding Kabiyesi and the Chiefs of Oja Society as development sneak into the Village.

The politicians of Oja Village, such as Councilor Balogun and Bamishe all believed in the culture and tradition and as a result it is possible for Kabiyesi to put them under control and corruption is equally put under check.

Amebo, in her rumour transmissions explains the importance of information and communication in a virile society. Bassey Okon/Okoro depicts queer personality in the society and he is tolerated and patronized.