By Henry Uche
For Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, member representing Oshodi/Isolo II of Lagos State at the National Assembly, he wants to be remembered by virtue of what he has done for humanity.
Onuakalusi, who is a lawyer, made this wish during the maiden edition of the talent hunt organised by his NGO, Okey-Joe Foundation in Lagos on Valentine’s Day.
The highpoint of the show was a marathon talent display by selected budding stars in music, dance, drama, comedy etc. According to Onuakalusi, the aim was to build talent and create opportunities for them to connect with the big shots in the industry, to enable them excel in the entertainment industry.
“Because we prioritize empowerment across board, we have a training center where winners are mentored. The winner will go home with N150,000; first runner-up goes home with N100,000 while the second runner-up goes home with N75,000,” he noted.
Also speaking, Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Kanayo O. Kanayo urged young people to discover themselves, as well as develop and explore social media positively to make names for themselves.
“It’s ideal we give back to the society that supported us. Hon. Okey is empowering youths in the entertainment industry to reduce crime rate in his constituency, and I’m here to endorse it and discover a talent. You don’t need to attend a formal school to be an actor or musician,” he stated.
The thespian cum lawyer reminded young people that the space is large enough to accommodate everyone, hence the need to desist from crimes and use what they get to bless their generation.
“Find out your talent and run with it. We all are pencils in the hands of our creator. God cannot bless you without something in your hands. For me, I will not fail to groom young talents in the entertainment industry by adding values. Entertainment is the new oil, so parents should not discourage their children from going into entertainment. We are raising the bar daily. So, let’s encourage them,” he said.