By Ogbe Sammy
Following the rate of youths’ involvement in social vices such as kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, ‘yahoo, yahoo’ among others, which have battered the image of the country at home and abroad, a renowned television personality and organiser of The Lee Talent Reality TV Show, Lilian Ngozi (LEE) has urged government at all levels especially that of Delta State to redirect the minds of the youths to useful ventures by discovering and harnessing their talents, especially in the areas of entertainment for the growth and development of the state.
Ngozi stated this when she showcased The Lee Talent Reality TV Show titled: “Discover the You in You”.
She said, she decided to organise the programme to inculcate in the youths that they have talents in them to make them live a worthy life and not to see crimes as ways to success.
She said, “There is nobody born without talents, what matters is to discover, harness such talents and put them into good use not only for the person and the family but the society at large”.
Ngozi disclosed that though it is not easy for her to raise funds to embark on the project adding, she finds it necessary to do because many youths are not aware of the talents they have in them.
She, therefore, challenged the government, corporate organizations, well meaningful Nigerians both at home and abroad to support entertainment to redirect the youths to useful ventures to enable them to shun social vices.
According to her, “Many youths don’t even know the talents in them. As you saw today yourselves, many of them did well in dancing, acrobatics, acting, singing and others and they are going home with various prizes”.
While admonishing the youths to shun social vices as there are no gains in engaging in them, she urged them to engage in talent shows in order to make them useful to themselves, their families and the society at large.
On how she is able to raise money for the programme every year, she said, it has not been easy adding that she would not hesitate to receive financial assistance from the government, corporate organisations, well-meaning Nigerians both at home and abroad just as she thanked those who have supported the project so far with gift items and money which have made the programme always a success.
She said:’ l will not hesitate to receive financial assistance from the government, corporate organisations, well-meaning Nigerians both at home and abroad because the project is capital intensive.”
While appreciating God for the success of the programme while it lasted, she thanked the contestants who were able to make it to finals and won various prizes for the day, urging them not to rest in their oars but soar on.
She also charged those who could not get a prize for the day not to give up saying, they could win some other time.
According to her, that they did not get a prize this time around does not mean, they will not get some other time.
Ngozi used the medium to thank those who were able to grace the programme which was in phases before getting to the finals, saying, this year is great but next year would be greater by the grace of God.
The highlight of the programme was the presentation of cash prizes of one hundred thousand (#100,000:00 ) for the 1st position, fifty thousand (#50,000:00) went for 2nd position while the 3rd position smiled home with thousand (#30,000:00) all with other items such as stoves, electric fans, gas cookers, and others consolation prizes amidst jubilation.
