Cultural Troupe seeks funds to promote Culture, Tourism

The Niger Cultural Troupe, (Gwape International) complain that, inadequate funding by the state government cripples it’s activities at promoting culture and tourism in the state.

The Director of Culture/Head of Department, Performing Arts Department, Niger Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Femi Adebiyi, said this on Thursday, while speaking with a verified source in Minna.

Adebiyi identified performing arts as a serious, busy and complex job for the artistes, who put in their best to entertain the public and promote culture and tourism without motivation in the state.

“As I speak to you now, the reverse is the case because the morale of the artistes is low due to inadequate funding of their activities and non-payment of salaries.”

“We also lack befitting theatre and cultural equipment such as drums, and costumes, among others, to perform.”

“Our performance is declining on daily basis to the extent that we can not do much at the moment.”

“Therefore, we are appealing to Niger State Government to come to our aide in order to revamp culture and tourism in the state,” he said.

He explained a situation where culture and tourism had been relegated to the background in the state, owing to inadequate funding and other facilities.

“If not, how do you want to promote culture/tourism without the real content.”

“Culture is the bedrock of any society, right now we have nothing to show because our art theatre is in a bad state,” he said.

The Director, who decried the current performance of the state cultural troupe blamed it on lack of government patronage and exposure to commercial performance to earn revenue.

“Everything is a product of the society, so, there is need to key the peoples culture in the heart of the performing troupe to make them work,” he said.

Adebiyi also said that inadequate performing artistes was another hindrance to the state cultural troupe in showcasing the state culture and tourism.

“As I speak to you now, we are not more than 15 artistes. Even those on ground are not receiving their salaries as and when due and this is making the artistes to seek greener pastures outside the state,” he said.

The UK Bello Arts Theatre Complex, currently housing the state cultural troupe, was inaugurated by the former Military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on May 25, 1991.

According to reporters, the theatre was in a bad shape and needed rehabilitation.

NAN/F.K