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Actor seeks government’s support for theatre

By Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta
19 April 2017   |   2:45 am
An actor, Mr. Dele Odule, has urged the Federal Government to tap into the entertainment industry in order to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

Dele Odule

An actor, Mr. Dele Odule, has urged the Federal Government to tap into the entertainment industry in order to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. Odule, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital at a press conference heralding activities for his 40 years on stage.

He explained that if government could tap into the various opportunities in the industry, it would open more job opportunities for jobless youths. He noted that the era of white-collar jobs was gone, hence government must look into other industries to create jobs.

His words, “I share in the belief that the era of white-collar jobs is gone in Nigeria and this is the naked truth. The various departments of theatre arts practice, if adequately tapped, can create job opportunities for our teeming youth”.

Odule also stated that he would stage a stage play worth N100 million in all the six South West states and some North Central states as part of activities to commemorate his 40th celebration. He added that over 100-member cast and crew would participate in the project.

The title of the stage is Oju Kelekun (Farewell to Reproach). Odule explained that the reason why he planned to stage a play was for him to revive stage performances, saying, “We, therefore, intend to use this medium to open up an avenue for government to empower the youth”.

He said he was making efforts to take after the late legend of stage play, Dr. Hubert Ogunde and others by reviving stage performances. The play, to him, would be produced by the combination of professional artists both from the academia and the travelling theatre practice, stressing, “The combination will make it good and entertaining venture.

“The combination of these two groups will definitely bring about the originality in Nigeria theatre. The practical theatre without theory is a child’s play while the theoretical theatre without practical is intellectual failure.”.

Odule also stated that he almost opted out of acting profession in 1984, when nothing was ‘coming forth’ to feed himself, saying he took the advice of a senior colleague in the industry, Akin Odunsi, for him to stay.

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