The Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA) has acquired multimillion naira musical and stage equipment for its annual Rivers State Carnival, popularly known as CARNIRIV, and other cultural events in the state.
The move by the agency has ended its reliance on rented equipment for the carnival and other ceremonies. Also, saving money spent on hiring equipment, RSTDA has commenced the training of over 50 passionate young men and women, comprising indigenes and non-indigenes resident in the state to handle maintenance, installation and setting up and dismantling of the stage for events.
Some of the trainees who spoke with our reporter during a training session in Port Harcourt, said acquiring skills to setup stage during carnival and other events will empower them to secure their future and put food on their tables.
Mr Mathew Simeon, one of the trainees, said, ”I am very happy that I am part of this programme and I want to use this opportunity to thank the Rivers State government for thinking in this direction. I came in contact with the programme during last year’s carnival. This is because the government decided to get their own equipment and personnel instead of hiring.
“After acquiring this skill I will now get ready to render service to anybody and earn money. For us this is just the beginning, because as people or other states will be hiring our equipment they will also be moving us along with the equipment which will improve our experience with better cash.”
For Jennifer Awele, an undergraduate, the training is a dream come true. She said, “though, the first time they told me about the training I was not interested but today it is one of the best things that has happened in my life. As an undergraduate it will keep me busy after graduation. Of course, with the nature of our society where graduates stay at home for years before securing a job with the experience I am about to acquire mine will be different. I want to thank Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and RSTDA for giving us the opportunity to acquire the much needed experience.”
RSTDA Concept/EventManager Mr.Oyet Uk added that for the few years of putting plans together to organise carnival and other events in the state it has cost the state government a huge amount of money to have a successful event exercise because almost everything depends on experts from outside.
Uk, who was one of the events managers of Calabar carnival, said there is need to train passionate young people from Rivers State who would manage the equipment and earn money through their experience.
He said: “What we are doing right now fall into the concept and event management of RSTDA, basically we are looking at capacity building and how to develop our own people through training to assist us in setting up the stage and to manage our equipment. Thet will also build on themselves by moving along with the equipments as people hire it from us, thereby creating job to reduce capital fight.
”Do you know that as we are organising the carnival those who dance at the carnival have a special coach, and they are being given something as they render their service? At least each local government has more than 50 people in attendance. We have people who supply water, cook food, the tailors who make their costumes, boat designers, makeup artiste etc. And every year they keep perfecting their jobs. Don’t forget 40 young men takes part in boat regatta the volume of micro- economic activities cannot be overemphasis so it goes beyond the colours and dance.
”The tourism and event industry is one industry that has not suffered the blow of global economic meltdown. The equipment the government has brought will be rented to the public. Now, let’s look at the churches there are so many churches today hosting one programme or the other and some of them need stage and event managers. The evangelism and preaching has gone digital and every one want to go along with digitisation,” he added.
RSTDA’s Director-General Dr. Sam Dede, an award winning actor and lecturer, said the idea is the state governor’s way of empowering the youths for greater tomorrow. ”It is an empowerment programme and it is the wish of the governor to ensure that the people have the skill, we are training the youths now because this is when we have acquired the equipment.
“The equipment came just before the carnival last year. And part of the wish of the governor is to train the youths that can sustain and maintain the equipment. Let me say that these equipment are also available for rent, if your event really matters then you need what we have, because it is the latest and best equipment in West Africa.”
