Vital Years Secondary School, Zaria, Kaduna State has emerged winner of the maiden edition of MTN Foundation Theatre for Schools Competition organised for secondary schools across Nigeria.
The maiden edition of the competition which drew participants from secondary schools across the country had its regional competitions in Ibadan, Zaria and Port Harcourt.
Idikan Baptist Comprehensive College of Ibadan emerged regional champion from Ibadan zone while Nigeria Navy Secondary School of Port-Harcourt was the regional winner for that zone.
The eventual national winner, Vital Years Secondary School, emerged from the Zaria zone.
Accompanied by their respective coaching teams, the regional teams arrived Lagos to compete for the N1 million prize money. The keenly contested final saw great display of budding talents from the young aspiring actors.
The judges were made up of seasoned theatre practitioners like Bimbo Manuel, Tina Mba, Afeez Oyetoro, Kemi Lala Akindoju and Patrick Jude Ote who is the artistic director of the Jos Repertory Theatre.
Vital Years Secondary School’s Divine Auta emerged the best male thespian, while Abioye Ayomide of Idikan Baptist Comprehensive College of Ibadan was named best female thespian.
Speaking at the grand finale, Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, thanked the management, coaches, and students of all the schools that took part in the competition.
“Without a doubt, this was a keenly contested competition and you will agree with me that the best team won. The passion, creativity and sheer depth of composure displayed by these students only help to re-confirm that our decision to invest in the grassroots development of local talent was the right economic and human development decision,” Ugboma said.
The 2019 MTN Foundation Theatre for Schools competition was implemented in collaboration with the theatre arts departments of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), University of Ibadan and the University of Port Harcourt.
Each school received state-of-the-art equipment worth N2.5 million each to enhance their creative practice.
