Four winners who emerged from the Anambra State Talent Show Season Two would receive more support to showcase their talents and skills, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, United Nigeria Airline, Prof Obiora Okonkwo has said.
Okonkwo, receiving the winners of the talent show in Abuja on Monday, promised to expose the young talents to individuals and companies that have excelled in the same field.
He called on the Federal Government and Southeast governors to invest in talent and youth development, which he said will reduce the rate of youth restiveness.
The Anambra State Talent Show Season Two was organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism, with sponsorship from United Nigeria Airline.
Okonkwo said: “The show was keenly contested, there was no form of bias and the best emerged, and looking at you here, I have no doubt that this should be a beginning of a new life for you.
“We have some hidden talents in us and the actions of the office of Bob Manuel Udokwu has proven to be such that help to bring out these hidden talents, and this is also another proof to my belief that we must not relax or rest until we are able to bring out the best from every youth around us because in every person there is just something in the person that she or he can use to become a better person in the society.”
He noted that there was a need for individuals, corporate entities and governments at all levels to invest in youth development and talent development.
Okonkwo continued: “As much as I believe that this kind of youth development activities are not only the duty of the government, I believe in the participation of corporate entities and individuals, that is why we got involved but the government will have more role to play than just providing the platform.
“So, I call on the government of Anambra State and the government of the South East and the Federal government in general to embrace programmes of this nature, especially when it is done and coordinated with credible people like Bob Manuel Udokwu.
“We are continuing our commitment to supporting development of talents and development of youth not only in the area of entertainment. This is one of the reasons you may recall my foundation in partnership with Nnamdi Azikiwe University set up a research on entrepreneurship for Igbo land with the Onitsha main market as a case study.”
The Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism, Bob Manuel Udokwu, said they came to show appreciation to the Chairman of United Nigeria Airline for his support.
He said during the planning for the show, they sought sponsorship and support from individuals and corporate bodies but the United Nigeria Airline came through for them.
He said: “We are here to say thank you to the Chairman and CEO of United Nigeria Airline. In Nigeria of today, we know that the economy is not stable, the Talent show was not funded by the state government, but the state Governor, Professor Charles Soludo is highly interested in the development of the youth of Anambra state especially those with talents.
“We had four categories in Acting, Singing, Dancing and Technovation, it was as keenly contested.
“We sourced for sponsorship from different individuals and corporations and United Nigeria Airline was magnanimous enough to say that those who win will have tickets and the opportunity to fly their airline to any part of the country at any point in time they need to do so.
“We are here to say thank you to the company and especially to the CEO whose benevolence made it possible for us to benefit from the operations of the airline which is the fastest growing airline in Nigeria.”
The winners of the Anambra State Talent Show Season Two included Jeremiah Udenze (Technovation), Okeke Chukwuebuka (Music), Paschal-Zion Chukwubikem (Acting) and Nwolisa Uchenna Paul (dancing).