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DOK Productions Limited has premiered its stage drama, AJANAKU: The Musical, in Lagos as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
The stage production, which premiered on October 1, explores themes of leadership, unity, sacrifice and the conflict between personal interests and collective goals.
Speaking at the premiere, Artistic Director of DOK Productions, Segun Olujobi, said the production examined how individual ambitions could affect collective efforts.
Olujobi said the storyline featured a character who betrayed his colleagues in pursuit of personal interests, disrupting their plan to escape.
“There is what we call personal interest, and I think the personal interest, or what individuals want to achieve that is not part of the collective, was actually what kept drawing them back from achieving that freedom,” he said.
He linked the theme to Nigeria’s political and social situation, saying individual ambitions could sometimes affect the wider interests of citizens.
“So, inasmuch as we are celebrating Nigeria today, it has been 66 years, and the political scenario is something where everybody wants to become something. Because of that, the whole nation, or let’s say the citizens, have to suffer.
“I think that if we are able to put our differences behind us, we can achieve far more in the next few years than we have achieved in the years left behind,” he said.
Olujobi also spoke about the role of young Nigerians in national development, saying the country’s youths had talents that could contribute to its growth.
“I think that the youth of this nation are blessed with talent. We function well even when we go abroad.
“But I feel we need to harness those talents to push the nation, our resources, our brand, our identity and our culture,” he said.
He also spoke about the relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, saying the two countries had opportunities to deepen their economic and trade ties.
“Even though we had a not-so-pleasant experience in the past, what the UK and Nigeria have been able to do together in terms of trade is enormous.
“So, even while we are preaching unity among Nigerians, we are also preaching global unity — that organisations and countries should unite and do business and trade together as one,” he said.
Olujobi said his work with DOK Productions also complemented his involvement with the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, where he works on issues relating to bilateral trade between Nigeria and the UK.
He said cultural activities could contribute to discussions around international relations and economic cooperation.
