70 jobs created, SMEs boosted as entertainment drives empowerment in Rivers

Engraced Entertainment has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, enlightenment, and entertainment through its Laff and Learn Live in Campus Tour, which recently took place at the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport), Rivers State.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Emmanuel Itoto, stressed the tour’s impact on students across Nigeria, highlighting its role in providing employment, financial support, and opportunities for young creatives.

He said: “This is the second time we are bringing the campus tour to Port Harcourt, and the reception has been amazing. Port Harcourt is a city that loves entertainment, and its entertainment market has huge potential. If properly invested in, the industry can generate massive revenue and provide employment opportunities.”

He further explained that the event was built on three key values—empowerment, enlightenment, and entertainment—noting that through the event, 70 people were employed to manage the show, business grants were given to SMEs, and a talent hunt was organised for students to showcase their creative skills.

“Entertainment is a tool to reach young people while also adding value to society. Through this event, seventy people were employed to manage the show, and business grants were given to SMEs. We also organised a talent hunt for students, ensuring that young creatives get a platform to shine,” he added.

The Josh2Funny Laff and Learn Live in Campus Tour featured performances from top entertainers, including Fuayefika Maxwell, aka Wizard Chan, Erhiga Agarivbie, aka Erigga, Adokie Horsfall, aka Romeo Aboli, MC Monica, Slim Talker, Voltage of Hype, MC JP, and DJ Joe. The event was filled with music, drama, comedy, talent hunts, giveaways, and scholarships.

Speaking backstage about the vision behind the tour, comedian Chibuike Alfred, also known as Josh2Funny, said the initiative was aimed at connecting with fans on a personal level while also supporting young people.

He explained: “We are touring six universities—UNICAL, UNIPORT, UNILAG, Ambrose Alli, UNN, and Veritas University. Not every fan has the luxury of seeing their favourite celebrities in person, so this is a way of connecting with them one-on-one. The last time I did this tour was in 2019, and it’s a way of giving back to students and grassroots communities.”

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On his part, popular skitmaker and comedian Emmanuel Ejekwu, aka Sabinus, who made a surprise appearance at the event, urged already-established artistes to leave a good legacy by helping up-and-coming artists harness their potential.

He said: “My ideology is simple—when you move forward, you bring others up. You can’t have a legacy if you refuse to help others grow. Many entertainers rise and fall quickly because they fail to uplift others. If you want to grow, you must also help people.”

Sabinus, who also called out the government for not doing enough to support the entertainment industry, noted that while the people of Port Harcourt are highly supportive of entertainers, the government’s contribution remains “zero.”

He added, “Entertainment in Lagos is very advanced, and it cannot be compared to what we have in Rivers State. The people here are always ready to support, but when it comes to the government, the support is non-existent.

“Whenever I organize an event in Port Harcourt, the turnout is amazing, but after that, what next? The low rate of entertainers emerging from the state is because there is no structure or support to sustain the industry.”