FUNAI SHINES AT NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES THEATRE ARTS FESTIVAL

Theatre Arts students of the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, shone like a million stars at the recently concluded Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF) held at the University of Benin.

Aimed at entrenching the theatre tradition amongst students, the 2017 edition of NUTAF featured various theatrical activities ranging from street party, drama performance, creative dance, stand-up comedy, spoken words, and drum ensemble to costume parade.

FUNAI students in a costume parade at NUTAF, 2017

Workshops were also held to equip students with requisite skills in Dramatic Criticism, Film and Television Production, Choreography and Costume and Makeup. Nineteen Universities in Nigeria participated in the 2017 edition of NUTAF.

The University’s contingent participated in drama performance, creative dance and spoken words which were well-received by the organizers, art judges and other participants. While describing the FUNAI contingent as a group to watch out for in future edition of NUTAF, the organizers noted that the University had made history by been the first institution out of the 12 newly established Federal Universities in Nigeria to participate in NUTAF.

FUNAI students celebrating after their drama performance at NUTAF, 2017

This was made possible by the overwhelming support the contingent received from the University Management, that has continued to provide an enabling environment for both staff and students to soar like eagles in their respective disciplines.

For their extraordinary performances, the University Contingent led by Rowland C. Amaefula, Tessy Uche Francis and Emeka Ukoha was given an opportunity by the organizers to participate in three different skills-honing workshops: Film and Television Production, Choreography and Young Critics’ workshops.

FUNAI students participating in a Dance Workshop at NUTAF, 2017

At the end, FUNAI and the other participating institutions were issued with certificate of participation while the winning students were given certificate of recognition for their artistic displays where Amarachi Nwora and Christopher Ifejimalu were adjudged the best actress/actor from the University while Nkechi Chukwuemelie won the Young Critics’ Professional certificate. The certificate is globally recognized by Theatre Critics.

A FUNAI student performing a drama titled, “Shadows” at NUTAF, 2017