School children in Ogun State have participated in the ninth edition of the Children’s Creative Station Workshop put together by the National Troupe of Nigeria to further celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the country. 

The event held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta featured a cast of more than 50 children taking part in the dance, music and command performance of a stage play titled “The Rejected Blessing”. 

Correspondent Wale Oluokun reports that the performance was witnessed by the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Liman Mansur, represented by the Zonal Director, Ibadan National station, Mrs Bolatito Joseph.

It was an evening of entertainment at the main hall of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library where the children treated the audience to cultural dance, music and drama.

The stage drama, The Rejected Blessing, focused on the Nigerian landscape, diverse cultures and values as well as historical facts, traditional practices and artistic manifestations weaved around the story of twins before the colonial era.

The children’s drama explained how the twins that were hitherto rejected by a kingdom became the saving grace for the ailing Eze of the town. 

The discovery that the twins that saved the Eze remained within the territory while the people engaged in the fruitless long search for them was the high point of the story written and directed by Pamela Idoka of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

Addressing the gathering, the artistic director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mallam Ahmed Ahmed explained that the Children’s Creative Station Workshop was being taken across the country to strengthen national unity and to further expose the various Nigeria cultures to all the nationalities.

He called on the Ogun State government to partner the troupe towards maximizing the benefits to the children.

General Manager of the National Theatre, Professor Sunny Ododo while speaking said there were a lot of talents among the children and urged the national troupe to experiment with engaging the children as both the cast and crew of the performances. 

Representative of the Ogun State governor at the play and commissioner for Arts and culture Dr Toyin Taiwo, commended the children’s display stating that the Ogun State government would continue to support the cultural industry.

The theatre performance by the national troupe was rounded off with the presentation of certificates to the children by dignitaries at the event, including the Director-General of FRCN, Dr Liman Mansur who was represented by the Zonal Director, FRCN Ibadan National Station, Mrs Bolatito Joseph.

Wale Oluokun