Pioneer Provost of TAMPAN ACADEMY, the Film and Music Institute of the Theatre Arts and Motion-Pictures Producers’ Association of Nigeria, Dr Ore-Ofe Williams speaks on challenges and critical views on the Nigerian entertainment industry.
What is the vision of TAMPAN Academy?
At TAMPAN Academy, our vision includes to raise leaders, teach them the morality of the job, teach them the technical know- how of the job, and to help them develop their characters.
What Inspires TAMPAN Academy?
The inspiration behind TAMPAN Academy stems from visionary leadership and a commitment to legacy. Our founding body, TAMPAN, understood that true industry sustainability requires deliberate knowledge transfer from one generation to the next. With seasoned leaders like our President, Otunba Bolaji Amusan (JP), and our Board of Trustees led by Dr Adebayo Salami and Prince Jide Kosoko as Secretary, we benefited from decades of collective wisdom. These industry veterans recognised their responsibility to train, mentor, and prepare the next generation of practitioners who will carry the industry forward.
How did you begin your career in the theatre?
My career began in a classroom at the then Ogun State University, under the tutoring of the Late Chief Hubert Ogunde who also taught the Late Otunba Charles Shomade. Interestingly, I hailed from Osoosa and my set was the first set to begin the Department of Performing Arts in the university.
It is widely assumed that Yoruba Nollywood Actors are not educated. How true is this assumption?
What do you mean by education, or what is your definition of “not being educated”? None of the leaders I mentioned lacked education. All of them are well educated. The President of TAMPAN, Otunba Bolaji Amusan, is formally educated, he is a man whose achievements were so significant and he was recognised and conferred with an honorary doctorate.
There are people who are more educated, and they are part of TAMPAN. We have Professor Joke Fadirepo, Mr Akinkunmi, and many other educated individuals.
When you limit education to university degrees, it’s like saying the late Doyen of Theatre, Chief Hubert Ogunde, should not be classified among those who are educated. There are people who went to school but are not educated. Education means having access to the knowledge of what you are doing. Someone who never attended formal school but already travelled round the world is educated. Such an “illiterate” person is more educated because of his exposure to the world, than a professor who has never been out of Nigeria.
For instance, I have a PhD and I am a scholar. You may ask, “Are they scholars?” I will tell you that they are not necessarily scholars but they are well educated.
Are you saying that someone who has been in the film industry for 40 to 50 years is not educated? Do you mean Femi Adebayo is not educated? Or Odunlade Adekola, who attended UNILAG, is not educated? If we are talking about formal education, aren’t these people educated?
What are your achievements in TAMPAN Academy?
A lot! A whole building was given to TAMPAN Academy at Bodija. Students are placed on scholarships, so lack of funds is never a barrier for interested participants. All these things are done selflessly. I am not doing this because I’m being paid. I’ve never collected a dime from TAMPAN. In fact, I am the one spending. I don’t even want to disclose how much I’ve spent because that is supposed to be our commitment to society. We have trained people to know how to give back to society. A lot have been achieved.
We have had two sets of graduates since 2023, and we have been able to establish TAMPAN Academy campuses across all South-West zones. We are also starting four campuses in Abuja and Port Harcourt, as this initiative is beyond TAMPAN itself.
This academy doesn’t only accommodate TAMPAN members. We have many young university graduates who joined the academy to gain practical skills. TAMPAN Academy is an institution that can operate independently and can even grow into a Polytechnic or University; depending on the vision of whoever assumes leadership in the future.
By God’s grace, TAMPAN Academy is the first sub-organisation under TAMPAN that is fully and independently registered. If you check the CAC, you’ll find it registered as a Limited Liability Company. That alone is a significant achievement.
What made them choose you since you’re not even a TAMPAN member?
Firstly, I am closer to TAMPAN than any other organisation. Secondly, I’ll say it’s by the grace of God, because, there are people who are more capable than myself. Also, it is important to state the fact that majority are busy with academic activities in various campuses.
For instance, I’m the President of The City of Talents, I’m a filmmaker, and I don’t report to any institution. I’m not a salary earner in any university. If I were working in a university, there would have been a conflict of interest. Other professors are capable, but they are occupied with other commitments.
As the first doctoral candidate to bag PhD in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, at the Federal University Oye Ekiti, why are you not teaching in the university. l have a vision, and what I do today wouldn’t be possible in a university setting.
Can you tell us about The City of Talents?
The City of Talents has four branches – a Mentorship Estate, a Film & Music Academy called – The City of Talents Academy, a Film Studio and a Film Village. It was founded in 2009 and was first named “The Talents Community.”
We’ve been making an impact since then. Beyond the Film Village, we also engaged in mentoring and guiding people at our Mentorship Estate—a place where individuals can receive guidance and support on their career paths.
Today, The City of Talents has active mentees in nations across the world. We have mentees outside the country and also in Nigeria doing greatly well. Some of our mentees are already HODs in different organisations, and even pilots. Our first Vice President is currently a medical doctor, the second vice President and provost of The City of Talents Academy is now a Barrister, the third Vice President is now a civil engineer. One of my mentees is the current Director-General of Nigeria Tourism Development Board. I started mentoring all of them when they had nothing.
Mentorship is our primary assignment. I’ve been training and mentoring youths for years through The City of Talents; providing them school sponsoring and offering scholarships to over 6,000 youths. We ensure we shelter and feed them at The City of Talents for free.
We should all be interested in the upcoming generation and invest in them, so that when we reach a certain point in life, we can look around and be proud of those whom we have raised.
Some people used to mock me back then when I gave these young people ₦500 for transport.
Why didn’t you do enough publicity around that?
When you have exceptional content, it advertises itself. It’s not about making noise; with time people will definitely recognise quality work. We’ve had numerous celebrities and important personalities visiting the Film Village: Evangelist Tope Alabi, Prince Yemi Sodimu, Otunba Bolaji Amusan, Antar Laniyan, Muyiwa Ademola, Ayo Ajewole, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Jaye Kuti, Taiwo Ibikunle, Yemi Sonde, and many more.
If these people have been there, you should know it’s not a façade. Look, nobody advertises water. Garri needs no advertisement before it sells out. Nobody advertises earth or air yet you can’t live without them.
The vision has endured over time, and it’s this proven success that led to my appointment as The Pioneer Provost of TAMPAN Academy.
What’s your advice to other filmmakers in the industry?
Build people! If you visit the TAMPAN office at Bodija, you’ll see pictures of Ogunde, Duro Ladipo, Oyin Adejobi, Ogunmola, and others. Why are their pictures still there? It is because those who put them there were part of the generation that was built by these people, either directly or indirectly.
Legacy isn’t about making noise on social media or doing live videos; those things will fade. It’s about the impact you’ve made on the next generation. How many people have you built? That’s what speaks after you.
Anyone in the industry, young or old, should learn to build others. Don’t frustrate any talent behind you. Give them space. It will help your credibility and sustain your legacy. I will always say this boldly that “I learnt television presentation from Uncle Yemi Sodimu. That’s impact. I still stay in touch with my university lecturers till today. The person being built should also always acknowledge those who have impacted him.
As a Filmmaker, what project are you working on presently?
Right now, I’m working on Dinner at 3AM — a very big project with collections of veterans and filmmaking generals like: Prince Yemi Sodimu, Otunba Bolaji Amusan, Yeye Toyin Ajoke Asewo, Taiwo Ibikunle, and many more.
What are you getting from TAMPAN as a body?
A lot! I enjoy huge support. If I were doing my private business and they gave me a building, would I not succeed? Of course, I would. Support is not only financial. They have allowed young people to grow, and those young people will never forget Alhaji Adebayo Salami, Prince Jide Kosoko, and Otunba Bolaji Amusan.
We always say that TAMPAN Academy would not exist without these people. They built others by proxy, and we always acknowledge them. The people they built are the ones building others today.
Whoever graduated from TAMPAN Academy is a product of Jide Kosoko, Otunba Adebayo Salami, Bolaji Amusan, Dele Odule, and others.
What do people learn at the academy?
Our programmes in the institution include workshops, basic certificates (three months), Advanced Certificate (six weeks) and diploma (one year). We also have E-classes for those outside Nigeria. The school has a Postgraduate class where those who have graduated can join to further their education.
Our maiden convocation is coming soon. It will be a very big event, as we will be bringing everyone together. It will be recorded as one of the biggest events in Nigeria.
