Musicians, comedians take reading culture crusade to varsity students
Photo:
Sun News Publishing
•Cross section of students watching the show
To avert the possibility of having dropouts among its members, musicians and comedians in the entertainment industry have carried to the universities the crusade of encouraging students in tertiary institutions to take their studies serious before venturing into the industry.
At one of such programmes organized by FlyKite Productions and co-sponsored by many organizations including The Sun Publishing Ltd, prospective musicians and comedians among the university students were encouraged to read their books. Held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the event had in attendance the Director General, National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB), Mr. Emeka Mba and several
musicians and comedians.
The musicians and comedians that entertained the students include Koffi, Yaw, Omalicha, Ik, Osakioduwa, Bunmi Davis, Lepacious Bose, MC Abbey, Gaise, JafXtra, Owen Gee, Westsyde, Engager, Capital Femi, Weird MC and Waje.
The show titled “Rhythm in the Book” which held at UNILAG’S New Hall also attracted several students who competed in several activities like dancing, jokes and singing at the end of which many went home with mouth-watering prizes as well as tickets for a comic show in Lagos.
The NFVCB boss, Mr. Mba, while lauding the organizer of the project, noted that the use of established comedians and musicians would help encourage the campaign for the students to take serious their studies while also nurturing ambition for whatever talents they have.
In a chat, a music promoter, Mrs. Funke Kuti, told Daily Sun that the essence of the show is to encourage students to finish their studies no matter their talents and added that “if the certificate acquired in the university does not get them job, they can go into music and comedy.”
She stressed that even if the undergraduate students have talents while on campus, they must complete their studies first. She added that there are many good things going on in the industry such as some musicians going international.
Speaking at the occasion, the General Manager of FlyKite Productions, Mrs. Grace Kalu, while appraising the get-together as a platform for youth interaction noted that “Rhythm-in-the Book is an event put together to let students know that they don’t have to drop out from school to join the entertainment industry.
Kalu’s words: “They (students) need to have education first. The big names in the industry are ambassadors are here to encourage the students to face their books.” Koffi, one of the renowned comedians in the industry, also had similar words of advice for the students. “No matter what you do, finish school first,” he said. “A lot of entertainers lately are dropouts, but entertainment is not for dropouts. Even if they have discovered their talents while on the campus, they must face their studies.
“I am a product of UNILAG from the Chemistry Department. Before I finished from UNILAG, I was earning big. By the time I finished schooling, there was no need to use my certificate again. In my third year, my mother was worried with my involvement in comedy as an undergraduate. When I was preparing to go and serve in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), scheme, because of the money I was making, she was opposed to my going to camp.”
The producer of Stand Up Nigeria, Mr. Bunmi Davis, who admitted that the standard of education has fallen nationwide stressed the importance of the students taking their studies seriously. She added that the programme was not meant for students alone but for several others who are in their position. But noting that students who are already in the university education system and acquiring knowledge would be easier to reach than those outside, he urged the students to discover their talents and to follow it up while studying.
UNILAG students were held spellbound for over six hours the show lasted but the beauty of it was that rather than being spectators, they participated by dancing, singing and even cracking jokes. At the end of it all, the lucky ones were given gifts.
