Edo immortalises Uwaifo

Edo State government, yesterday, immortalised the late Sir Victor Uwaifo by naming the Edo Creative Hub after the late music maestro.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, who announced the gesture while paying his tribute at the lying-in-state for late Uwaifo, held in Benin City, described the passing of the music legend as the end of an era.

Other dignitaries at the event included Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu; former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; wife of the state governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha, among others.

Obaseki said the government and the people of Edo mourn the death of Uwaifo, whom he further described as a living legend.

He added: “For us, the passing of Sir Victor Uwaifo marks the end of an era that produced some of the prolific artistes from Edo.

It was a generation with creative minds, such as the late Erhabor Emopkai, Dr. Victor Eghareva and Sir Victor Uwaifo. Uwaifo’s passing marks the end of that era.

“As a mark of honour to the late Guitar Boy, the Edo State government has decided that our newly built Creative Hub will be named after Uwaifo. This Creative Hub, which is going to be commissioned by the second week of November 2021, has a multi-million-dollar studio to support artistes.”

Obaseki stated that the hub would promote creativity in Edo.

“It has editing suites. It will incubate state-based groups and artistes. It will be used for live shows. It has studios for Nollywood to rent for its productions.

“There will be spaces for artistes in the performing arts. That is the least we can do for a man who changed the face of music in Nigeria; that is the least we can do for the man who composed the song, Joromi. That was the first song from Africa and Nigeria to win a golden disc as at the time it did.

“We will always remember Sir Victor Uwaifo for what he meant and what he represented. He represented Edo values, which include hard work, creativity and innovation. It is going to be very difficult for us to imagine our entertainment scene and music space without Sir Victor Uwaifo. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the governor said.