…we’re embarking on sensitization against drug abuse

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- DEEJAYS under the auspices of Deejays Association of Nigeria, DJAN, weekend, urged the Federal Government to establish capacity building centres in order to keep a unified standard and adherence to ethics.

The National President, DJAN, Prince Christian Edeh (aka DJ Perfect) made the call on the side-lines of the 14th DJAN National Conference with the theme ‘The Socio Economic Impact of Entertainment on the Creative Industry: A DJ’s Perspective’, held in Abuja.

According to DJ Perfect, “The membership empowerment we are looking at is partnership with the relevant government’s agencies in the entertainment and creative industry.

“This is because DJAN, as an association, is membership driven. We don’t have finances to empower our members but we know that with the government’s available projects and programmes, we can partner with the government to empower our members in the areas of training.

“We have always asked them to assist us to establish our training centres that is Deejays’ schools in at least one in all the six geo-political zones in the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where we will be able to train the younger ones and retrain the existing DJAN’s members.”

He also expressed deep concern about the rate at which youth are into drug abuse and violence, therefore, want serious partnership and synergy with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in order to sensitize students against the use of hard drugs and other dangerous substances, as they adversely affect their health and jeopardize their future.

“We are asking people in government, especially those managing the creative industry and youth development, to partner with DJAN to see the programmes we have.

“We want to assist the government and not just get some things from them but to help in eradicating the use of hard drugs.

“We wrote to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to partner with the agency on a sensitisation programme. We intend to go to primary secondary schools to sensitise students to the use of hard drugs.

“We want to catch them young by disabusing their minds from engaging in those dangerous vices. When you engage Dejaays, we have a way of talking to people with music.

“When you play music, people listen to it and by that time, you have control over them. They want to hear more especially when the Deejay is good.

“So, when you stop the music and you use your microphone, they will listen and take the message to their heart, especially the young ones”, he added.

A lecturer of the Department of Christian Studies and Religious Communications, Dr Nesta Andy-Philip noted the great influence of DJs in the entertainment industry and how they communicate with the people that dance to the music they.

Andy-Philip as resource person at the Conference said, “DJs are masters of creating immersive and engaging experiences for club goers. Through their selection and sequencing of tracks, they can build energy, create emotional connections, and take audiences on a musical journey.

“Skilled DJs understand how to read the crowd, adapt their set to the atmosphere of the venue, and curate a unique sonic experience that resonates with the audience.”

Meanwhile, the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria, MCSN, and the Deejays Association of Nigeria, DJAN, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to protect copyright laws and ensure professionalism in promoting the music industry in Nigeria.