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Tag: ANTP

Lere Paimo alive, not dead, says ANTP

The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has dismissed circulating rumours claiming that renowned Yoruba actor and cultural icon Olalere OsunPaimo, popularly known as Lere Paimo, has passed away.

In a statement released on Saturday, the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Adejonwo Oluwafemi, confirmed that the veteran actor is alive and in good health, citing direct confirmation from his wife.

The ANTP expressed concern over the spread of false information on social media and urged the public to verify news before sharing it.

“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are false.

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“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.

“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.”

Lere Paimo, affectionately known as Baba Eda Onile Ola, is a respected figure in the Nigerian theatre and film industry.

The ANTP appreciated the public’s concern and assures fans that the actor is doing well.

“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the statement said.

November 29, 2025
ANTP joins NFVCB, other stakeholders in digital content censorship

The Association of Nigeria Theatre-Arts Practitioners, ANTP, has joined the National Film And Video Censors Board, NFVCB, and other major stakeholders in creating awareness for digital content censorship.
This is coming after the NFVCB organised the annual digital content regulation conference in Lagos, Nigeria.
The ANTP National President, Alhaji Razak Oyadiran aka Baroka said the ANTP identifies with NFVCB’s ideologies on safe digital contents for youths and children saying, “We will try our best as the foremost indigenous artistes association to educate our members and the general public on the dangers of posting uncultured content in the digital space.”

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The 3-day conference attended by stakeholders in the film and entertainment industry was the third edition held by the NFVCB.
At one of the sessions tagged ‘NFVCB-NETFLIX Safe Screen and Digital Entertainment Space Forum’, the NFVCB Executive Director, Adedayo Thomas said the board would clamp down on over-the-top streaming services violating Nigeria’s digital content law.
He lamented that though the board was challenged in monitoring the content pushed out by online platforms, it was working on expanding its capacity for effective monitoring.
The NFVCB boss commended OTT streaming service Netflix’s compliance with the digital content law and collaboration with the board.

November 24, 2023
Feud over: Kunle Afolayan reconciles veteran Yoruba actors

…Casts ANTP, TAMPAN, NANTAP, AGN in new movie

In what appears like a first step at reconciling top members of the Yoruba film sector who have been divided along professional association line, notable filmmaker Kunle Afolayan is making good is promise by casting the ‘sworn enemies’ in a film production, currently ongoing in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The film, with the working title, ‘Stella and Oba’, stars veteran actors, Jimoh Aliu (Aworo), Lere Paimo (Eda Onile Ola), Wole Olowomojuore (Baba Gebu) and Olajumoke Ray Eyiwunmi (Mama Ray), all of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) playing alongside the association’s estranged members like Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello) and Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero) who are now of the newly established Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN).

Recall that young Afolayan promised to reconcile the factions during the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the passing of his father, the iconic Ade Afolayan (Ade Love) which took place in Lagos and Agbamu, Kwara State, last December.

The star-studded ‘Stella and Oba’ is being handled by Golden Effects Productions and directed by Kunle Afolayan for filmmaker, Lasun Ray, who is a beneficiary of the Bank of Industry’s NollyFund loan scheme.

Described by promoters as a film like no other, ‘Stella and Oba” also stars top cross-over acts; Zack Orji and Tina Mba, including music sensation Chidinma Ekile, Ken Eric and ‘October 1’ actor, Demola Adedoyin.

In what seems like an all-inclusive Nollywood production, Orji of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and Mba of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) are also in the fold.

(more…)

April 1, 2017
ANTP to perform at Olojo Festival

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has set the stage for his first celebration of the annual Ile-Ife traditional Olojo Festival aimed at boosting the nation’s tourism-generated income. He has given the nod to the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) to perform at the festival.

At the three-day Olojo Festival 2016 tagged, ‘Community Festivals: a veritable avenue for boosting domestic tourism’ in December, there will be a command drama performance from foremost Yoruba dramatic artistes under ANTP.

Oba Ogunwus said that theatre artistes are moral teachers saddled with the responsibility of moulding character, shaping lives and bringing lasting peace to the society through their lesson-filled drama stories.

Addressing the artistes in his palace where they had gone to introduce the association’s newly elected officers as directed by him, the Ooni said the artistes should focus on unity and selflessness towards harnessing their rich potentials without leaving room for pirates to take undue advantage of their collective and individual works.

The ancient belief of the Ifa oral tradition is that the Aare crown is very heavy and it is believed that the Ooni of Ife is spiritually empowered to wear it during the Olojo Festival, as the crown is too heavy for him to bear on any other day.

Appreciating the Ooni, National President of the Association, Chief Jimoh Aliu (MFR), said that the ANTP would always partner with local and foreign counterparts to contribute its quota to the uplift of Nigeria’s tourism industry. He added that ANTP is ready for cultural exchange programmes with other countries to create awareness on “our rich culture and tradition via stage performance and film exhibitions.”

Besides the national president, the new officers as introduced to the Ooni are: Deputy President, Rasak Oyadiran, Vice President (North), Mariam Aponbepore Bakare, Vice President (South), Biodun Adekanbi, General Secretary, Alhaji Yahaya Adetunji, Treasurer, Bola Obot, Financial Secretary, Adewale Elesho, Internal Auditor, Bolanle Adeniran, Organising Secretary, Olanrewaju Ayodele, Publicity Secretary, Benjamin Adekunle, Welfare Officer, Fatimah Afunku, Chief Whip, Tajudeen Gbadamosi, Ex-Officio, Salaudeen Azeez.

The national appointments are: Chief Special Adviser, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande), Special Adviser (Special Duties), Chief Oyewole Olowomojuore (Baba Gebu), Special Adviser (Screen Craft), Chief Eddie Ugboma, Special Adviser, (Stage Craft), Prof. Kola Oyewo, Special Adviser (Inter Association Matters), Prince Saheed Balogun, Special Adviser (Media), Chief (Mrs) Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, Patron & Chief Legal Adviser, Chief Afe Babalola, Special Adviser, (Legal Matters),Barr. Femi Falana,ANTP Lawyers, Barrs. Olawale Omoloye, Abdul-Hameed Gambari, Ag. Chairman, Elders Council, Chief Oluseyi Adelesi, National Director, ANTP Troupe, Prince Jare Adeniregun and National Choreographer, Akeem Ogunde

October 8, 2016
NEIL talks health insurance scheme with TAMPAN, ANTP

Ahead of the eventual roll out of the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS), a strong delegation of the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Lecture Series (NEILS) has met with the national executives of Theatre Arts and Movies Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN) in Abeokuta, Ogun State as well as the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) in Ibadan, Oyo State respectively. The two prominent associations had their national executive meetings with representatives from across the different states of the federation.

The president of TAMPAN, actor Yemi Solade, who received the NEILS delegation applauded the initiative and urged all Nigerian entertainment industry practitioners to participate actively in the scheme as enrollees. “It’s a welcome development for the entertainment industry and I believe this is a project everybody in the entertainment industry should be part of. I can remember vividly how we lost a very popular Yoruba actor, Alaran, because of N15, 000. With this great initiative, our future as entertainers and that of our families are secured.”

Also, the President of ANTP, Mr. Jide Ashaolu, commended the initiators (NEILS) and pledged that his association would set up a national committee to liaise with the administrators on harnessing benefits of the scheme for its members. “This is a very brilliant initiative that every practitioner should partake in. This is the reason I invited you to brief our national executives officially, who will in turn take the information to all the state chapters. I congratulate the Nigerian entertainment industry for this milestone of a secured future.”

The Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS) is in partnership with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), whose mandate is to ensure affordable healthcare delivery for all Nigerians.

The agency is currently making efforts to ensure that all Nigerians, both poor and rich, all have access to health insurance.

In situations where the health plans subscribed to under the NEIHIS by some of the enrollees cannot cater to evacuation needs (expensive surgeries abroad), the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Trust Fund will be the fallback plan to source all such required funding.

September 25, 2014
Why Yoruba movie stars stormed AMAA –Kunle Afod

UNLIKE in previous editions, this year’s African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) attracted an impressive turnout of Yoruba movie stars.

This has, therefore, confirmed the thinking in some quarters that some thespians, within the sector, are trying to bridge the seeming gap between the Yoruba actors and their English counterparts.

Kunle Afod, an actor, producer and director, who tried to offer an insight into the new development, said: “If you look at actors in the English home movie sector, you find out that they have different associations and guilds. These associations have something they are doing for their members. So, having one association, such as ANTP, has limited our prospects in the industry. What you call impressive turnout of Yoruba actors today is the different associations, which recently sprang up within our industry.

“I belong to The Movie Ambassadors. Saheed Balogun is our president. We also have members of TAMPAN here as well. Besides, we have relied too much on our talents. But talent is not enough. We need other things to make that talents profitable for us.”

Some of the Yoruba movie stars who graced the event include: Fathia Balogun, Funke Adeshiyan, Aishat Ibrahim, Foluke Aremu (Orisa Bunmi), Saheed Balogun and Kunle Afford, among others.

June 1, 2014
Use theatre to create jobs, ANTP members urged

Members of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) have been urged to hasten to use their talent in creating employment for the youth who are without any gainful employment.

Wife of chairman Mushin Local Government, Mrs. Rachael Adepitan said theatre can serve as a platform for employment as well as opportunity for children to learn about culture. She added that it will also shape the moral values of the society through quality scripting, editing and story lines that can promote ethical behaviour.

She spoke at a ceremony where she was honoured as the Grand Patroness of the Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Mushin Chapter.

She said: “I teach Yoruba language and I have seen that there are things that are better explained in native dialects for better delivery and understanding, you can use rich languages to reform the society, today, every family retires home watching one program or the other on television, radio or reading newspapers, particularly Drama series, it is the best weapon to educate the society, less of violence, criminalities, get rich quick syndrome should be aired or published’, she noted.

Also during the event, a 26-week drama project, titled ADEPITAN was unveiled, depicting a child destined to be great despite the shenanigans of distractions.

Others honoured at the occasion included protem legal adviser APC Dr. Muiz Banire, APC Chairman in Mushin, Aremo Michael Kufisile.

April 2, 2014
Court affirms presidency of crisis-torn ANTP

Justice Bolaji Yussuf of the Oyo State High Court 3 sitting at Ring Road, Ibadan, yesterday upheld the September, 2010 election that produced Comrade Victor Asaolu as national president of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP).

Ruling in a case brought before it by the Incorporated Trustees of the ANTP, the court restrained Prince Jide Kosoko and Dele Odule from conducting another election for new national officers of the association.

Justice Yussuf ruled that the 2005 harmonised constitution of the association, which was adopted in compliance with an order of a Federal High Court, is the authentic document of the ANTP.

The court maintained that an association as the ANTP cannot operate with several constitutions, and that Chief Lere Paimo acted in accordance with the 2005 constitution by dissolving the National Electoral Committee, and setting up a new one to conduct the 2010 election.

The judge added that since the harmonised 2005 constitution stipulates a four-year single term for national officers, Asaolu remains the national president of the association, having won the 2010 election.

However, the court premises was besieged by hundreds of ANTP members, who came to support elders of the association, including Chief Jimoh Aliu, Lere Paimo and Asaolu.

Speaking with reporters after the ruling, Asaolu said with the judgment, the lingering leadership crisis rocking the ANTP was over, just as he expressed his readiness to work with the aggrieved parties.

Reacting, Jimoh Aliu noted that God used the court case to teach members of the ANTP lessons, which is that God is greater than any individual.

Also speaking, Lere Paimo said he is thankful to God for allowing truth to prevail, commending members of the association for standing beside him during the crisis period.

January 31, 2014