Second term for Greg Odutayo

By Jerry Adesewo Next Daily November 30, 2010 10:56PM

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.