LASU Theatre for Development: Students address subsidy with playlet
In a rear manifestation of theatre for development, 300-Level students of the Theatre Arts and Music Department of Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, embarked on an advocacy journey to sensitise the grassroots on the challenges and prospects of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Recall that the new administration of President Bola Tinubu, at inception, announced the removal of subsidy, a move that has continued to raise concern among the citizens of the country, with inflation rising.
It was on the above backdrop that the LASU theatre arts and music students visited communities in Ojo, Otto-Awori and Iba with live performances of drama, dance and music on the impacts of subsidy removal.
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Speaking on the programme tagged: “The Effects of Fuel Subsidy Removal on Nigerians and her Economy” when the troupe visited Ojo Local Government for a performance, the Project Lead, Professor Tunji Azeez explained that the focus was to create social awareness for the people at the grassroots.
He said with theatre for development, the objective was to harness available opportunities, tap from rich potentials and awaken consciousness to global issues that will enable them to maximise their potential for personal economic and communal growth.
According to Professor Azeez, Theatre for Development is a practice that has impacted man and documented globally.
He stressed that it was a universally-tested approach for education, entertainment, empowerment and a tool that has been employed by the Theatre Arts unit of LASU to address democracy, good governance and behavioural change for over 20 years at the grassroots.
“This workshop, which features music, dance and drama based on the research findings, is an opportunity for LASU to contribute to local, national and international issues affecting the community; to throw light on the fuel subsidy removal and coping strategies for the grassroots.
“Most importantly, (Theatre for Development) suggests ways and means of solving identified problems and ensure a better society,” the veteran thespian noted.
Professor Azeez added that the throupe sensitises the citizens on the need to be patient with the administration’s move on subsidy as it would have a positive impact in the long run.
He said: “The current hardship faced by Nigerians is temporary as the President is working hard to ensure that the looming fuel crisis comes to an end in Nigeria.
“While we call on the authorities to urgently address the challenges the subsidy removal has brought, especially on the people at the grassroots, we should know that Nigerians cannot pay for the price of decades of political and economic mismanagement of the subsidy scheme,” Professor Azeez added.
On his part, the Team Lead and lecturer at the department, Mr Kotin Hungbo Ovisemeho, also explained the impact of theatre for development in the last 20 years.
In his remark, the Chairman of Ojo Local Government Area, Rasulu Idowu, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Edna Uche Ubochi, said it is good for the people to get engaged in meaningful conversation on the impacts of subsidy.
Idowu said: “We must focus on diversifying our economy and reducing our over-reliance on oil revenues.
“This will require significant investments in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, technology and tourism.
“By creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and diversifying our revenue sources, we can build a more resilient and prosperous economy for future generations.”
Meanwhile, the troupe also visited the Oloto of Oto Awori Kingdom, HRM Oba Josiah Aina, with the gospel of theatre for development and performed a playlet.
Reacting to the performance, Oba Aina promised to take the demands of the students for improved life for the citizens to the authorities