The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State chapter has advocated for the endowment funds to encourage and promote the entertainment sub – sector of the state, saying such funds could be a leverage for the promotion of abundant talents that abound in the state.
According to the NUJ, a well promoted entertainment industry will address societal menaces and reduce involvement of youths in crime and criminalities, militancy, drug abuse and related crimes that are prevalent in the state.
The chairman of NUJ, Bayelsa State Council, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha who was represented by his Vice, Dr. Inebaraton Preye, while speaking during a courtesy call on him by the organizers of the Beauty of Africa International Pageant (BAIP), said ” A well developed entertainment Industry can significantly address societal ills and foster development of the entertainment industry in Bayelsa state”
He urged the Beauty Pageant organization industry, BAIP, to ensure that it will be merit based selection devoid of nepotism, favouritism that has hitherto characterized such events in the past and ensure they partner with stakeholders such as oil and gas companies to sponsor entertainment industry’s programmes.
NUJ, Bayelsa state Council, also pledged to support the BAIP initiatives and commended the organizers for bringing the event to the state to boost the entertainment industry.
He used the opportunity to advise beauty pageants to use their vantage positions to address gender issues such teenage pregnancies, out of school children, neglect of the girl child, abortion, early and under-age marriages and other myriads of predicaments that are militating against the advancement of the girl child.
“They should not be carried away by their beauty, cat walks, fashion displays and others associated with their elevation, but be focused on how to alleviate the sufferings of the gender in our society”.
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Earlier, the President of BAIP, Nigeria, Mr Daniel Opuene, expressed his delight for the warm reception and proposed partnership by the NUJ to promote the entertainment industry in the State.
Opuenen also pointed out that the grand finale of the event is scheduled to be held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital at the Chief DSP Alamieyesegha’s Memorial Banquet Hall on September 7th, 2025.
Opuene, who has put in over eighteen years in the entertainment industry, extolled the media role as critical, insisting that without media coverage nothing works.
He further noted the challenges in securing sponsorship, particularly from Lagos, the hub of entertainment based partners’ hesitation to invest in Bayelsa state due to concerns about visibility and financial returns on investments in the sector.
On credibility, Opuene affirmed BAIP,s commitment to high Standards, adding that praises from a writer who described the pageant as one of Nigeria’s most credible and unpredictable in ensuring fairness.
He decried International Oil companies’ lack of interest in sponsorship of entertainment events that feigned non-inclusion in their corporate social responsibilities to host communities. ” The entertainment industry is critical and should not be neglected in every ramifications”
Also speaking, the 2024 winner of the BAIP ,Nigeria and reigning Miss Nigeria International, Miss Perpetual Ukadike, who will be handing over the crown, lauded NUJ, Bayelsa state Council for its hospitality and encouragement.
” We are committed to implementing your wise counsel and to ensure that our event succeeds”
