Traditional rulers and Community Development Committee Chairmen have been called upon to appreciate the role of Theatre for Development (TfD) as a veritable means of driving economic growth in rural communities.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Africa Toru-Orua (UAT), Professor Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, stated this, Monday, 22nd August, 2022, during a courtesy call on His Royal Highness Hon. Alaowei Broderick Okee, the Amadaowei of Adagbabiri, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Professor Ayakoroma said that the level of hospitality extended to theatre arts students from UAT, who were in Adagbabiri for the Theatre for Development (TfD) practical project in the 2020/2021 Academic Session has been unparalleled, adding that the offer of the royal father to domicile the project in the community was highly appreciated.
Saying that he was in the Palace of the Amadaowei mainly to introduce the new Head of the Department of Theatre & Film Studies, Dr. Tam Azorbo, who will directly supervise the project, the DVC (Academic) promised to monitor the production preparation and also attend the public performance.
Responding, HRH Hon. Alaowei Broderick Okee reiterated his commitment to host students for their Theatre for Development (TfD) project, informing that the experience during the 2020/2021 Academic Session performance was highly exciting, so much so that he smiled uncontrollably, which was something traditional rulers hardly do in public.
According to the monarch, his subjects learned a lot about approaches to theatre performance, and they have displayed that at an event in which the His Royal Majesty Barr. Peremobowei Shadrack Erebulu, Aduo III, Pere of Kabowei Kingdom was present, and that the Pere was so thrilled that he extended an invitation for them to perform at the next edition of the Kabu Seigbein Festival in Patani, Delta State.
The Amadaowei of Adagbabiri thanked the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma and the Head of Department, Theatre and Film Studies, Dr. Tam Gordon Azorbo, for the confidence reposed in him to have the TfD project domiciled in Adagbabri.
Professor Ayakoroma was accompanied on the visit by the Head, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Dr. Tam Gordon Azorbo and Mr. Samuel Udo, a music lecturer in the Department.
