MTN Foundation in partnership with the Beeta playwright competition recently trained the top ten finalists in a playwriting workshop designed to empower young Nigerian creatives.
The workshop held from November 14 to November 17, 2022, following the call for entry which had 794 submissions from 30 states across the country.
The Beeta Playwright competition is aimed at encouraging budding playwrights to tell organic indigenous stories, showcase new dynamic Nigerian writing talent, at the same time improve growth and development in the theatre and creative industries in modern Nigeria.
This year’s edition themed ‘Our Stories, Our Voices,’ sought to portray authentic Nigerian stories.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, in 2021, stated that the creative industry is an important one in the country, with a revenue of about 4.5 billion dollars. It has also been revealed in a 2021 report by Jobberman, that the creative industry is positioned as the country’s second-largest employer and has the potential to produce 2.7million jobs by 2025. Additionally, the industry is poised to contribute 5 trillion Naira to the country’s GDP.
Speaking on the importance of the partnership, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya said, “One of the key aspects of the MTN Foundation is Youth development and we achieve this through several ways including supporting young and upcoming creatives in Nigeria. The reason we do this is because we believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. It’s not in the data and the recharge we sell. It’s the fact that we want to be part of your journey and enable you to connect to your aspirations. And for us at MTN Foundation, we found a partner in Beeta Arts’’.
Also speaking on the training, Founder, Beeta Playwright Competition, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, stated that “The training is not a one-off thing, as all the finalists get to be a part of the Beeta writers network and Beeta alumni. It is a lifelong relationship. The finalists also have the opportunity to be a part of the Beeta Arts Festival. And for projects like this to be successful, we can’t do it alone. So I will like to use this opportunity to thank MTN Foundation For believing and coming on board’’.
In the past, the MTN Foundation has supported several projects including theatre productions, art festivals, and visual arts exhibitions and the Foundation is invested in continually supporting initiatives that empower Nigerian youths and skilled professionals.
Meanwhile, Yemi Akande has emerged the winner of this playwright competition with his play, The Mask We Wear.