In recent times, Kogi State has been in the news for one political drama or another, so it is a pleasant surprise that a renowned Nollywood actress and Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State governor (SSA) on entertainment, arts and culture, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, is making plans for a talent hunt for youths of the state.
The objective of the talent hunt is discovering talented actors and actresses across Kogi State which would assist in ushering them into the mainstream Nigeria movie industry, Nollywood.
Explaining why she embarked on the talent hunt, Mercy Johnson-Okojie said it is her way of giving back to the state that made her who she is. “I have been incredibly blessed to have played my little part in the revolution that is Nollywood, it is now time that my brothers and sisters in Kogi state get the same opportunity.”
The search is scheduled to commence on 17th of August at the Civic Center in Okehi ; 18th of August at the Idah Local Government hall, Idah; August 19, auditions would hold at the Theatre Arts Hall, Kogi State University, Anyigba and 21st of August, the last day of the search is at Reverton hotel, Lokoja.
Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola and director, Frank Rajah are the judges to oversee the auditions alongside Johnson-Okojie.
The winner will receive N250,000 and a lead role in the upcoming folklore movie Inikpi; a Kogi folklore that tells the story of an Igala princess, ‘Inikpi’, who gave her life to save the Igala land from total annihilation in the hands of their enemy, the Bini Kingdom.
Also, the first runner-up will take home N150, 000 and a key part in Inikpi, while the second runner-up will receive N100, 000 and also feature in Inikpi.
Credit: BusinessDay
