L-R: Bethel Obioma, head, corporate communications, Sahara Group;
Jade Osiberu, film director/screen writer; Rita Dominic, screen
actor/producer; Stephaine Busari, producer/journalist, CCN Africa,
and Ramsey Nouah, screen actor/producer, during the maiden edition of
#Asharamispeaks a Sahara Group conversation platform,” in Lagos.
Resounding applause greeted actresses
Rita Dominic and Dakore Akande,'s presentations last Wednesday, when
the duo leading other stakeholders added their voices to the cause of
girl-child empowerment. The event was the maiden edition of Sahara
Group's #AsharamiSpeaks:, an emotive gathering that seeks to empower
the girl-child through film.
Held at Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos,
the event had as topic for discussion, ‘Enhancing Girl Child
Empowerment Through the Medium of Film.’ The partnership being
implemented under Sahara Group’s Grooming Film Extrapreneurs
initiative targets empowering 90 girls aged 13 and 19 in three
African countries – Nigeria, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire – in the
art of film making.
Among discussants at the session
included young filmmaker and girl-child activist, Zuriel Oduwole,
Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Social Entrepreneur, actress Dakore Akande,
Screen Actress and Amnesty International Ambassador and Rita Dominic.
Others are Ramsey Nouah, Screen actor, producer and director,
Bodunrin Sasore, film director and screenwriter, Stephanie Busari, a
producer and journalist with CNN Africa and Jade Osiberu, film
director and screenwriter. Also, in attendance was Sahara Group’s
Executive Director, Tonye Cole.
Leading discussion, Rita Dominic
advocated girl child empowerment through film.
According to the Imo State-born actress
cum producer, “Movies and television have the power to tell stories
and effect change in order to project the Nigeria we want to see
tomorrow. That's why we have to take the medium seriously.”
Advising the young girls to believe in
their talents to get them through the hard times and bad times, Rita
said “You are on the right path.”
Speaking in the same vein, Dakore
Akande advised the young girls to prepare themselves for the
opportunities so that when they arise they would be ready to grab
them. She also cautioned them against doing some self-work that will
derail them.
Oduwole said she was hopeful of the
project’s success, adding “ I like the fact that Sahara Group
sees some value in what I am doing with Girls’ Education across the
world, and just like the African proverb, if you want to go fast, go
alone, and if you want to go far, go together.”
“I think I have gone very fast in the
last five years, since I started my project at age 10.
Earlier, Head, Corporate
Communications, Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma, explained that the
project is expected to drive the advocacy message for girls’
rights, highlight key issues affecting girls across the three African
countries and equip the girls with the foundational skills required
to become film makers.
#AsharamiSpeaks has sparked off
regarding amplifying a global voice for girl child empowerment and
creating opportunities for girls and boys as well to pursue and
realise their ambitions," he said.