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Hope rises for skit artists as Daramola institutes awards

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja
26 September 2021   |   4:07 am
In addition to the several awards instituted to recognise and reward creative endeavours that have impacted the country, the Managing Director, Bridge Concept, Bimbo Daramola, feels it is time to look into skit artists.

Bimbo Daramola

In addition to the several awards instituted to recognise and reward creative endeavours that have impacted the country, the Managing Director, Bridge Concept, Bimbo Daramola, feels it is time to look into skit artists.

These are raw entertainers who employ distinct social media platforms to educate and inform Nigerians, using the vehicle of entertainment. In Nigeria, they are called Instagram or YouTaube influencers but Daramola calls them skit artists, and according to him, they are equally ripe for recognition.

He said: “The wake of COVID-19 pandemic brought with it, highs and lows and in the midst of all this, Nigerian skit industry blossomed with many creative minds coming up with creative contents in skits that have now caught the attention and admiration of many.”

According to him, efforts are in top gears for premiering Nigerian Skits Industry Awards (NSIA) Brand. Speaking on the awards, Daramola said as a project being pushed forward by Bridge Concept, a communication outfit that has come to recognise “the undeniable efforts of young Nigerians, their passion, creativity and determination; young people who have changed the entertainment landscape through creative audio-visual presentations that further consolidated our place in the world of arts in Africa.”

He added: “We see that gradually, this people have crept into our national consciousness, particularly the entertainment sector and seemingly today, they have redefined it. Nobody can negotiate that they have done that rising from boot straps and shoe strings without any support or help from anybody and today, they have stamped their presence on the Nigerian entertainment sector.”

He said, “It is our collective efforts that will make this industry thrive and produce youths who are actively engaged. So, there will be no room to use them for act of violence in the society.”

Listing the impacts of skit artists to the society, he identified the heavy message delivered through witty vehicles, which he noted, are relevant to daily lives.

“Through this industry, thousands of jobs have been created, livelihood secured and many inspiring talents discovered.

“For instance, Debo Adedayo whose stage name is Mr. Macaroni, who portrays character of a philandering elderly man in his skits. At the end of each episode, you learn moral lessons condemning the act of philandering. Even little Emmanuella comedy skits have also shown that age is not a barrier to success,” he said.

Daramola stated that his decision to recognise and reward skits was borne out of the passion to inspire the youth. According to him, Nigeria is a nation where people hardly believe that those who engage in positive works should be commended until the initiative for awards in various sectors such as the Nigerian Media awards and Nigerian Music Awards were birthed. He believed that before then, public recognition and acknowledgement was lacking.

“If skits do not have impact, why do many Nigerians including prominent names watch them? This has also transformed the fortune of some of these artists.

“I believe that if we reposition this form of entertainment and redirect their minds to be more confident in their skills, talent and creativity, we may lose the trend along the line. So, it is necessary to institutionalise it.”

He said, “The annual recognition is to further create a more structured industry and with that, open more opportunities for young people to discover and develop their talents and take benefits due to them in the industry,” adding, “this will also open doors for more support and discovery from individuals, corporate bodies and government. This will increase their value in the creativity driven industry as obtained in the entertainment industry worldwide.”

According to him, “It will also bring about external awareness from outside Nigeria and institute an Industry Support Endorsement Scheme (ISES) from financial to technical.” He noted that although there are going to be multiple categories of awards, the number of awardees is yet to be determined as nominations continues. The event however comes up in November.

While saying nomination is not yet closed, he noted: “We do not have the expected number of persons yet because the recognition awards will be determined by Nigerians who will vote through SMS for the various arts along the nine major headings including content, consistency, costuming, characterisation, contextual relevance, delivery and rendition, social ill, correct production, funniest skit as well as best skit production in different categories.”

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