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The three-man
National Delegate Council’s Electoral Panel, chaired by Nifemi
Richards, has returned Greg Odutayo unopposed for another two years’
tenure as the national president of the National Association of
Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), the apex body for theatre
practitioners, at the just concluded national convention of the body.

Odutayo took office in 2008 at the Ekiti convention, where he secured a landslide victory over Biodun Abe as the president.

CEO of Royal Roots
Communication, producers of television series, ‘My Mum & I’ and
‘About To Wed’, Odutayo was commended for the achievements of his first
tenure. Among other things, the administration brokered an insurance
deal that theatre practitioners across Nigeria can benefit from. A
NANTAP website was launched; and the administration has been very vocal
in the agitation for an Endowment Funds for the Arts.

Other members of
the executive who also returned unopposed include the deputy president,
Toyin Ogundeji; secretary general, Steph Ogundele, director of
business; and Deji-Etiwe Suleiman, who was the immediate past chairman
of Lagos NANTAP.

The fresh faces in
the National Executive Council elected and sworn-in for the first time
on Saturday, November 20, include: Adesewo Adebayo, as assistant
secretary general; Lara Akinsola, as director of finance; Ofonime
Inyang, as director of research and documentation; Ozi Okoli of NN24,
as director of publicity; Idoyen Francis, as director of productions
and screening; Patrick Okonkwo, as director, copyright and royalties;
Yinka Aiyelokun, as the chief whip; while the duo of Faith Eboigbe and
Christopher Ifezime clinched the two ex-officio positions.

Chair of the
National Delegate Council, Segun Oyewo, challenged the executive to
move the association further up to take its pride of place in the
nation’s polity, as a major stakeholder.

“Our fate and
future we have committed into your hands today because we have absolute
trust in you. Make sure that you give this association all the best.
Two years is a long time and is so very short as well, but, it is not
how short, but how well. We wish you all the best and expect the best
from you,” he admonished.

The national
delegate council also appointed a five-man constitution review
committee, chaired by Nifemi Bruce Richards, to review the constitution
of the association. This followed an earlier failed attempt by the
Biodun Abe administration.

Other members of the review committee include: Lara Akinsola
(Lagos); Gold Ikponmwonsa (Abuja); Christopher Ifezime (Delta); and
Mufu Onifade of Lagos State. The committee is expected to liaise with
chapters across the nation for their contributions and then present the
reviewed constitution for ratification at the next National Delegate
Congress, holding in Abuja, in November 2011.