Vital Years Secondary School has won the ‘Theatre for Schools’ northern regional competition held at the Demonstration Secondary School of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna state.
The school emerged winner after beating three other secondary schools in Northern Nigeria.
The schools are Demonstration Secondary School, Zaria; Prince and Princess International Academy, and Zaria Academy.
The national ‘Theatre for Schools’ campaign is an entertainment initiative sponsored by the MTN Foundation and aimed at discovering the next generation of thespians and to promote arts in Nigeria.
Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma said: ‘Theatre For Schools,’ as the initiative is known, is designed to create a platform for secondary school students, mentored by Theatre Arts majors from prestigious Nigerian universities, to showcase their talents in the performing arts and receive recognition for their accomplishments. It is also aimed at discovering the next generation of thespians from their young age.”
Announcing the winner of the northern regional competition tagged: ‘Open Air Theatre’ in Zaria’, the Manager of Education Portfolio at MTN Foundation, Pamela Emodi, said the programme is to grow “these children into the leaders of tomorrow” in the entertainment industry.
Also speaking at the event, Emmanuel Yahaya Akut, the representative of Ministry of Youths and Sports, Kaduna state, said: “Education does not end in the classroom, else ‘all work and no play’ will make ‘Jack a dull boy, and Jill a dull girl’.”
Other notable personalities present at the event include the Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba; the representative of the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mohammed Tukar Bashir and some officials from the MTN Foundation, among others.
Daily Trust reports that Idikan Secondary School beat the International School Ibadan, St. Louis Grammar School, and Concord Secondary, Ibadan to emerge winner of the western regional competition.
Also, Navy Secondary School was declared the winner of the southern regional ‘Theatre For Schools’ competition. It outshined Aladumo International School, Ziva Tops School and UDSS, Port Harcourt to win the competition at the regional level.
The regional winners are expected to represent their schools in the finals billed for Lagos later this month (June).
