Mabel Benson
With top artistes like Ramsey Nouah, Ejike Asiegbu, Olamide, Faze, Eedris Abdukareem and Azadus on the bill, the stage is now set for the grand finale of the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF) ‘Unleash Your Talent 2017’ holding at Hub Event Centre, Odili Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday September 8.
Aside prominent entertainers that will be attending, some governors have also been confirmed to grace the star-studded event.
Speaking on preparations being put in place for the epoch making event at a press briefing held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the week, President of ACTDF, Noah Dallaji, an engineer, said that following the conclusion of the zonal auditions in Ibadan, Lagos, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Ekiti and Kaduna, the foundation is ready for the grand finale at the Garden City.
“We had a very successful audition. We are now ready for the grand finale. Already three contestants had been shortlisted in each category of acting, music and dancing. At the finale in Port Harcourt, winners will emerge and each would get N1 million contract with a manager and producer to be appointed for him or her from the industry. The winners will also get cash prizes and they will join us on our trip to the United States of America for exposure,†he explained.
According to Dallaji, the programme is aimed at developing and discovering talents while integrating the participants into the mainstream of society for nation building. “Our primary objective is to showcase the talents of young people who are full of sadness because of their hopelessness but here is hope coming their way,†he observed.
Also speaking, Ramsey Nouah said: “It is a great initiative. It will help not only to develop the young ones but also to strengthen the entertainment industry.â€
On his part, Eedris Abdukareem whose rapper son, Derek, did freestyle at the briefing, as a prelude to his major performance at the finale, said he was delighted to be part of the programme. “I am happy that ACTDF is giving the up and coming artistes an opportunity to showcase their talents. We need more of this because government alone cannot do everything. I am happy that my son is coming up and he’s going to perform at the grand finale in Port Harcourt. This is a big deal for us,†he enthused.
ACTDF has been doing a lot of humanitarian activities that have seen the less privileged being integrated into schools, taken care of through scholarship and other forms of developmental projects in communities where they need help.
