WRITTEN BY DAVID OKPOKWASILI
It is an unwritten and an accepted practice to celebrate anniversaries in this part of the world with all pomp and pageantry;
but that would not be with the new National Light Newspapers being recreated by Sir Chuka Nnabuife.
It is four years since this erudite scholar, artist and writer was appointed to mount the saddle of the acclaimed “longest serving state-owned newspaper” but instead of celebrating it with the parties, and the clicking of glass cups, he chose, rather to mark the auspicious event with a rapport of poetry, drama and spoken word performances.
An initiative, called the “National Light Art House” which has become an annual gathering of celebrating the best in new and emerging voices in arts, poetry, drama and also serve as a reclaim for the acclaimed in that field, opened its wings again for art lovers in the media, the academia, top government functionaries, and from other walks of life who converged at the National Light premises to enjoy the beauty of human imaginative creation and especially to mark in grand style the fourth year since Sir Chuka Nnabuife mounted the saddle as the Managing Director of Anambra State Publishing and Printing Corporation and as the Editor-in-Chief of National Light Newspapers.
Special Performances by new talents discovered through the National Light Art House topped the list as well as appearances by guests at the programme including the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment and Digital Entrepreneurship, Mr. Ifeanyi Aniagor, the Producer and Presenter of Creative Forum on ABS Radio and Television, Mr. Eze Onwuji and a rendition offered in tribute to Ikem Okolue, a renowned Sports Consultant, Olympian and artist.
The performances explored themes of love, politics, leadership, governance, culture and societal tolerance.
In an address to declare opened the event, Sir Chuka enumerated the numerous success stories recorded by the establishment in the past four years to include regular and steady publication of editions of the newspaper, publication of newlines of the paper for sports and the Igbo edition, “Ka Odi Taa,” setting up of the online edition of the paper and boosting its content and production quality to meet the standard of any news tabloid anywhere in the world which according to him were all made possible through the support and visionary leadership of Governor Willie Obiano.
The National Light Newspapers helmsman also noted that beyond the responsibility of reporting news, the establishment has as well undertaken the course of identifying and mentoring young people who will grow the creative industry in the state.
The Director of News and Current Affairs Department of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr. Gab Okpalaeze, a guest and Professor of Parasitology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Dennis Aribodor and a Television Personality, Mr. Eze Onwuji while commending the National Light Newspapers for its efforts in marketing literary works, called on both government and private individuals to pay attention to the social changes that could be engendered through works of arts and reemphasized the need for a more holistic curriculum in primary and secondary schools to facilitate proper education of young one to expand their horizon through expressing interests in literature and reading.
One of the poets who performed in Igbo Language, Mr. Izunna Okafor also called on authors to increase writing in Igbo Language as a way to promote the Language, culture and tradition of Ndi Igbo.
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