Part of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) Holistic Opportunities and Programmes for Empowerment (HOPE) project, which was birthed by the Chief Samuel Ogbuku-led administration to uplift and develop the youths, is the Niger Delta Music & Arts Programme (NDMAP), whose main focus is to develop talents such as musicians, movie producers, content creators, cinematographers, and visual artists.
Speaking on the initiative, a public analyst, Martins Ibigomie Ogolo, disclosed that the Niger Delta Music and Arts Project (NDMAP) is designed to stimulate prospects for active and passionate young creatives and entertainers.
According to him, this development in the Niger Delta region is changing the perspective of knowing the region’s youths for several wrong reasons, ranging from kidnapping to pipeline vandalism to several other social vices.
“This perspective, however, is not because the youths are not industrious or talented, but because the talents of the youths haven’t been properly harnessed.
“NDMAP is now presenting a new opportunity that will preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Niger Delta region through music and art. It will provide a platform for indigenous creatives to showcase their talent, fostering a sense of pride and identity within the region.
“Over the years, we have seen the tenacity and audacity of indigenous youths in the creative industry soar amidst all the prevailing circumstances.
“The Niger Delta Music and Arts Project is an intentional strategy designed to identify active and responsible ‘greenhorns’ and give them the needed support through processes that will discover, nurture, reward, and expose their talents and abilities.
“The Niger Delta Music and Arts Project (NDMAP) involves creating original music, producing films that highlight local stories, generating engaging content, and utilising cinematography to capture the essence of the region. The overarching goal is to celebrate and promote the artistic vibrancy of the Niger Delta through a multidimensional approach.
“The Niger Delta Music and Arts Project is designed to create platforms, enable talents, and empower creatives in five considered skill sets of this specimen: music production, movie production, cinematography, creative content, and visual arts.
“Using arts and creative endeavours as a means of raising awareness by telling correct narratives about the Niger Delta, the Music and Arts Project will also: “Facilitate cultural exchange and collaboration among artists from diverse backgrounds, encouraging a vibrant and dynamic creative scene; promote economic empowerment by supporting local artists through performances and collaborations with the broader artistic community; and establish partnerships with government and non-governmental organisations to garner support for sustainable development.
“The MAP, which is designed to create a regional entertainment industry, will enable platforms for ninety (90) creative youths in these categories and empower nine (9) youths (Pride of Niger Delta) in the categorized set.
The NDMAP will incubate passionate and hopeful creatives to help them grow organically into a fully structured, enterprising venture with the requisite mentorship and monitoring paraphernalia required for growth.
“The Niger music and art project is designed to run for a period of forty-one (41) days, implementing four cardinals: the Interest/Nomination Stage, the audition stage, the selection/incubation stage and the grand finale/empowerment stage.
“These four strategic process implementations were detailed to ensure that the core objectives of NDMAP will truly be achieved.
“NDMAP seeks to create a meaningful and sustainable impact on both the artistic landscape and the region of the Niger Delta. One must commend the resource consultant for Project HOPE, Ambassador Blessing Fubara, for his ingenuity and hard work behind the scenes to ensure the project meets global standards.
“The MD/CEO NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, has of course shown his sincerity in changing the fortunes of Niger Delta youths, which is why he has given full support and expanded the scope of the programme.
“The long-term plan of the Holistic Opportunities and Programmes for Empowerment (HOPE), is to have an
“Entertainment Park ” which will serve as a breeding ground for young Niger Delta Talents to groom them and give them a competitive advantage over their counterparts from other parts of the country, so much so that they don’t have to search for greener pastures outside the region, as the market is readily available.
“I enjoin all well-meaning Niger Deltans to embrace this life-changing opportunity, as even future generations will benefit greatly from it, as its effect will be felt and enjoyed as PROJECT HOPE has come to stay.”
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