BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

Last week’s debut of Early Stage, a talent discovery show that had no fewer than 18 secondary schools in Lagos State as participants at the Awori-Ajeromi Senior Grammar School, Agboju, has added to the numerous programmes aimed at sustaining the giant stride of Governor Babatunde Fashola(SAN) in the education Sector.

With support from 7up Bottling company,Nestle, Sparkle and Crystal Ltd, Early Stage , organised by Geez Media Ltd, is packaged as an annual event geared towards assisting young ones in discovering their talents in theatre and at the same time, excel in education.

The maiden edition tagged, Promoting Education through Stage Performance featured drama presentations adapted from approved literary works being read by students of the participating schools.

Some of the participating schools were Imoye Senior High school whose drama presentation was adapted from the play, Women of Owu; Odofin Senior Secondary School, Mile 2,which also performed, Women of Owu, Dr Lucas Memorial Senior High School, which performed Survival of the fittest” and Awori Ajeromi Senior Grammar School , which acted, The Incorruptible Judge.

Other schools included; Alakoto Senior Secondary School and Navy Town Secondary School, which took up The Gods Are Not To Blame, Festac Senior College and Amuwo-Odofin Community Secondary School, which also performed, Women of Owu.

At the event, Navy Town Secondary School students who gave a near professional performance emerged winner of the competition ,while 2nd and 3rd positions went to Festac Senior College and Amuwo-Odofin Community Secondary School respectively.

In his opening speech, the Chairman of Amuwo odofin LGA, Comrade Ayodele Adewale emphasised on the importance of education which he said, plays a pivotal role in effective leadership, adding that “we all can attest to the marked difference between countries led by educated leaders and those led by school drop outs and the uneducated.”

Comrade Adewale who was represented at the event by his Special Assistant on Events, Entertainment and Management, Dorothy Effiong noted that lack of adequate education and proper learning have led to the relegation of leadership ethics in Nigeria.

Extolling the organisers for putting together such educational event to promote the interest of the young ones , she enjoined all authorities of learned institutions to galvanise efforts for the pursuit of goals that will guarantee academic excellence.

Also speaking, the Director of Geez Media Thompson Ilevbaoje said that the idea of Early stage was conceived from a similar project “stagealive”, a reality TV show by the company, organized for students in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

In attendance were; Chairman, Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) Lagos, Daggar Tolar, Comfort Jemima Chibuike and Mr Femi Amos Onileagbon among other literary scholars.