Use your talent and intellect to address pressing challenges of the nation”… Maku tells theatre arts workers.

[FMINigeria]

                        Information Minister,  Mr. Labaran Maku has called on theatre arts workers to deploy their talent and intellect to address pressing challenges confronting the development of the nation.  He made the call in Abuja when the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Students Union paid him a courtesy visit.

Mr. Maku observed that the challenges of peace and security in some parts of the country could be tackled by spreading the message of peace through dramas, music and films.

The Minister said it becomes imperative to devise multi dimensional ways to reach out to youths trapped in the cycle of violence and the arts could play a crucial role in that direction.

In the same vein, programmes that could discourage political thuggery, which is at the roots of the violence being witnessed in the country should be promoted through the work of arts; said, the Minister.

Maku commended the resilience and the ingenuity of Nigeria artistes in promoting Nigerian movies to a global acclaim through professional prowess, which also displaced foreign movies in the country, and created thousands of jobs.

He appealed to the students to be creative and show commitment, patriotism, hard work and be of good character to excel in the theatre world.

The Minister pledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Information to promote the activities of the Theatre Arts Students, especially towards the forthcoming Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival holding at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi in July this year.

While speaking earlier, the Head of Department of Mass Communication and Theatre Arts, Nasarawa State University, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura who led the delegation, said the Theatre Arts Festival with the theme "Theatre, Youth and National Security" is a veritable platform for networking the youth to promote peace and national cohesion.

He said, thirty-seven universities with about one thousand five hundred students within and outside the country are participating in the festival and sought for strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information to promote the event.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria