NYSC to partner AGN on talent hunt, movie production

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced plans to partner with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) on talent hunt and movie production.

According to NAN, Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC director-general, broke the news on Wednesday when he hosted Emeka Rollas, AGN’s president, at his office in Abuja.

In a statement signed by Adenike Adeyemi, NYSC’s spokesman, Ibrahim said since the scheme was established in 1973, it has availed youth corps members the opportunity for gainful careers in the entertainment industry.

“This is through its various programmes and activities. One of such programmes according to him is the sports and cultural festivals which are organised by the scheme annually,” Ibrahim said.

“In line with the scheme’s desire to consolidate on the gains of the cultural festivals, the NYSC Cultural Troupe was established in 2020 whereby the talents identified during the festivals were harnessed and brought together to form the troupe.

“The cultural troupe, apart from projecting the positive image of the scheme, would also serve as an avenue for revenue generation for the scheme.”

The NYSC DG enjoined the AGN to partner with the scheme in identifying corps members with potential in acting, directing, scriptwriting, and other aspects of film production.

“When fully on board, the collaboration will entail a selection process at the various NYSC Orientation camps and would culminate into a grand finale, where the best would be chosen and integrated into the Actors’ Guild in Nigeria,” Ibrahim added.

In his remarks, Rollas commended the NYSC DG for the initiative, assuring him of the AGN’s willingness to partner with the scheme in grooming film stars.

The AGN president disclosed that his visit to the NYSC secretariat was to review a movie produced by the corps members entitled ‘A Call to Service’ which featured prominent Nollywood actors.