Friday September 12, 2025
TheNewsDESK |
By Aniekan SUNDAY
The Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has been lauded for intentionally energising the creative economy of Akwa Ibom State while
aspiring talent have been advised to shun bad behaviours such as drug or substance abuse, cultism, immorality and other social vices that truncate promising careers in the
entertainment industry.
Addressing participants in the maiden edition of the ARISE Creative Champion Version 1.0, held at Duema Hotel Uyo, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Orientation, Rev. Osondu Ahirika, said Governor Umo Eno has invested so much in the youths through human capacity building and entrepreneurship, maintaining that gifted citizens can become entertainment moguls if they key into the ARISE Agenda.
Dr Ahirika commended the Special Assistant to the Governor on Creative Talent Discovery, Pastor Emmanuel Owuala for the initiative and tasked participants to imbibe the virtues of discipline, focus, consistency, integrity and self-development, which he stressed are necessary to enable them to succeed in the highly competitive entertainment industry.
While also applauding the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment and Team Leader, Mr David Sergeant a.k.a Utang Akwa Ibom for ably interpreting Governor Umo Eno’s vision of the creative industry sub-sector, Dr Ahirika argued that
Entertainment is a calling or ministry and should be treated as such by talents who take it up as a career.
He however advised them to learn from the fall of a litany of erstwhile superstars who ended in bankruptcy, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, prison or committed suicide due to overindulgence in hedonism and moral depravity.
Expressing confidence that at the end of the talent hunt competition, new stars who can explore the money-spinning entertainment industry would emerge, Dr Ahirika observed that this subsector contributes substantially to the local creative economy of the State, creating immense job opportunities.
Dr Ahirika accordingly urged all youths who have a dream or knack for a career in the entertainment industry to take advantage of this initiative and register to participate in the ongoing ARISE Creative Champion Version 1.0 for which entries opened on September 15 and will close on September 30, 2025.