By Emeka Amaefula
RIVERS STATE ENTERTAINMENT PRACTITIONERS’ ASSOCIATION DECRY HIGH COST OF HIRING EVENT CENTRES, CALL FOR GOVT. SUPPORT
The members of Rivers state Entertainment Practitioners’ Association led by Acting Coordinator Tekena Iyalla, on Thursday, 20th of February, 2025 paid courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Creative Economy, Hon. Dr. Israel L. Ngbuelo who received the group in his office. Speaking at the occasion, ace comedian Tekena Iyalla reiterated the need for the establishment of more Government built Event cum cultural centres across Rivers state which will be decentralized and made affordable as event centres. He decried the high cost of hiring Event arena in the state capital such as the newly built private owned EUI Event center which he said charges Fifteen Million (N15m) per day while others charge as high as Ten Million N10m per day for hosting of shows at Port Harcourt. while the Government owned OBI WALI CULTURAL CENTRE along G. U Ake Road also charges N5m per day for event hosting.
While soliciting for cooperation between the Rivers state Entertainment Practitioners’ Association and Rivers state Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. Iyalla enumerated the challenges facing Rivers state based Entertainers which include lack of official recognition and collaboration with Rivers state Government, lack of affordable Event arena and urgent need to sensitize Rivers state based Entertainers against the use of illicit Drugs while on stage performance.
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In his charge to the members of Rivers state Entertainers association, Dr.Israel L. Ngbuelo admonished the leadership of the association to do more work in bringing other artists in Rivers state under one umbrella for effective professional benefits. He stated that in United states of America an Ogoni born man was able to emerge as Chairman of Barbers association in USA an opportunity he said brought honour to Rivers state as well as to those who practice Barbing as a Profession. He therefore urged Rivers state Entertainers association to go out and include Barbers and other related bodies as their members. “I want to encourage you to go and call some other bodies to join you as you recognize and identify them. As a Ministry our job is to support and identify with your association as a body of Entertainers Practitioners Association. Entertainment Industry is a Billion US Dollar budget industry in the world.”
The Rivers state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Creative Economy called for the group to maintain peace among them and bring other bodies together as he said that an idea of Government building three EVENT CENTERS at each of the three Senatorial District of Rivers state will help to bring down the high cost of hiring Event arena for hosting Shows. “Few days ago we gathered Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas where we charged them to identify tourism sites in their Local Government Areas. IKURU BEACH in Andonni LGA can host Burna BOY MUSICAL LIVE SHOWS, Part of Bonny Island can also host events the same thing with Okrika cultural sites which can generate 40% income. For the establishment of 3 Districts Cultural Event Centers in Rivers state, We are thinking in the same direction as when the demand is low definitely the price will come drop.”
Music star, Lexy MUEKA popularly known as Lexy M a former Rivers state CHAIRMAN OF PMAN called on Government to collaborate with Rivers state Entertainers Practitioners as there are plans to actually bring in laid down policies that will drive the entertainment industry in Rivers state which he said has reached about 80 per cent worth of paper framework.
However, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Diekuma Israel advised the members of Rivers state Entertainers Practitioners Association to unite and embrace togetherness while they should accommodate all faces into one Guild so as to bring harmony into the association.
—————————————–Emeka Amaefula———————-+234(0)8111813069———–
