The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington, has urged the country’s creative sector to tell stories that put Africa in a positive light.
The ambassador was speaking at a meeting with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s entertainment industry which also had the US Consul General, F. John Bray present.
Organised by Temple Management Company (TMC), the event held last Saturday at the US Consul-General’s private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The ambassador pointed out that intellectual property, not oil, not gas was the true strength of the Nigerian people.
“I have travelled the length and breadth of this great country, from Maiduguri to Lagos, from Kebbi to Calabar, and there are fantastic stories to tell. You are all in a unique position to carry the torch for this continent,” Symington said”
Also speaking, Temple Management’s CEO, Idris Olorunnimbe, acknowledged the US Consul General’s foresight in recognising the increasingly influential role of the burgeoning creative sector.
“This has been a fruitful evening,” Olorunnimbe said. “Many of the Ambassador’s words foreshadowed the reasons why Temple was set up in the first place. We simply have to tell our own stories.”
Present at the meet and greet were Joke Silva, Eddie Lawani, Ade Bantu, BBN runner-up, Bisola, OC Ukejie, Falz, Phyno, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Rukky Sanda and Yinka Davis, playwright (Heartbeat) and screenwriter (The Wedding Party) Tosin Otudeko, Iyanya, Darey Art-Alade, Jeff Akoh, Sound Sultan, Bovi and a host of others.
Some of the highlights of the event include a spectacular performance by ex-MTN Project Fame winner, Jeff Akoh, accompanied by an acoustic band.
Young artist, Fola David, renowned for his speed painting skill, created an illustration of the famed Lagos statue of the “Three Wise Men,” popularly referred to as ‘Ere Meta.’
Guests were transfixed as the artist crafted the piece upside down!
The Temple Management Company later presented the portrait to the US Ambassador on behalf of the creative community.
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