By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu
A new dawn is in view for theatre arts practitioners and movie producers in Nigeria as their professional body targets new heights.
At the maiden National General Meeting of the Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria held on Thursday at the Ogun State Council for Arts and Culture, Abeokuta, the association’s National President, Prince Odubamidele Odule, said TAMPAN “intends to work with friends at the legislative arm of government to establish an Institute of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures.”
Odule added that the institute will upgrade the performance of the practitioners in line with modern trends of professionalism.
“The era of practising the trade with intuitive knowledge will be gone for good and our members will have access to professional trainings at both certificate and diploma levels”.
Odule, who is the pioneer president of TAMPAN, sets a six-point transformation agenda for the association.
This includes, besides the proposed institute, construction of a befitting permanent secretariat for the association, creating retirement and social security scheme for older and feeble practitioners, revival of stage performance across the country, immortalising theatre legends through annual world class carnival and introducing new marketing strategies in alliance with professional films and video marketers.
Welcoming the artistes, Governor Ibikunle Amosun said the state will always work together with TAMPAN towards making a great contribution to the economy of the country.
Amosun, who spoke through the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Yewande Amusan, said establishment of a film village in Ogun State will soon be a reality.
Chief Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), who is TAMPAN’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, urged members to be focused, remembering where they are coming from.
The TAMPAN members regrouped and formed the association after a prolonged crisis that consumed the Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP).
About 800 artistes from across the country attended the meeting.
