ByIduozee Paul, Benin Correspondent
To ensure youths in Edo State and Nigeria harness their talents and gifts, a movie icon Dr. Lancelot lmasuen has admonished young artistes, who have skills and wisdom to work and build on their talents so they can become important in life. The movie producer said this would make them develop and showcase their gifts anywhere they find themselves.
Dr. Lancelot lmasuen, gave the advice at the grand finale of Talent Central tagged, “The Rising of Stars Season One”, organized by an academic and administrator in Benson Idahosa University, BlU, in Benin city. He advised young artistes to be focus and make sure they utilize all gifts and skills required onstage performance when acting to excel in the music,dance, singing, drama, and thrilling during actions.
The movie legend equally served as judges panel as one of the people to decide who emerged winner at the end of the competition.
Commending commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora, Osemwengie Ero, thanked the brain behind the event, Prof. Guobadia, the vision bearer, and everybody that graced the talent event. He promised to support the show and admonished the participants and the active artistes to make good use of their talents and gifts.
At the end of the competition, AyebanoaKoru Ebi emerged winner and took home get the sum of N1million, Michael John,was announced the first runner-up and won cash prize of N300,000 while KelechiOdom, was the second runner -up withN200,000.
A total of 24 contestants jostled for the N1million prize but only nine of the contestants made it to the finals. The Talent Central Show was watched by 800 fans across the state and Nigeria. The24 contestants faced a rigorous one week mentorship from various stars, at “Boot-camp” before they were set for the battle.
In an exclusive chat, the initiator of the project and chief executive officer Penthouse Africa, Prof. Sam Guobadia, said the talent show serves as a noble idea that will be spread to other countries in Africa.
He said his aim is to empower youths to make them self- independent in life.
Prof. Guobadia who, is the vice-chancellor of Benson ldahosa University(BlU), said the talent show is created to build social support, advanced youths resourcefulness,civil responsibility, promote peace, acknowledge leadership qualities, promote artistic works, and curb youth restiveness’ in Africa.
“This project for me is driven by creative insight as one way to put together a platform so that we can go out to various parts of the nation and other parts of Africa. That is why we are doing it to discover the hidden talents of the people, especially the youths. We have good talented artistes and people in our presence. We need to do more to motivate, encourage, inspire young talented people. Many of them looked hopeless when I interacted with them as a teacher.
“The impression I have with them about the platform is that they are just hungry and thirsting for where they can utilize their gifts and talents. This is my way of adding to the society. We have a great country, we must stop anticipating.
“The government at all levels must do their part; we private individuals must do our part also. I am motivated and excited by the whole thing. It is going to be a self- fulfillment for me to empower and to ensure young people take over the platform, ” Prof Guobadia explained.
He is thinking of a global market.
‘‘We are going to take it to a level where we can showcase our rich cultural heritage to the world. We are fasting and praying that after this first outing many would know we are serious and take notice of the platform. We are going to spread Afro -centrism to make us explore the richness of our culture. We will take full advantage of it; whatever we are seeing here is a great teachable movement to get the vitality to grow and discover our rich culture that could be manifested in every way,” he stressed.
