Nasarawa State Government has expressed its readiness to support the society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) to enable it continue to shape and promote cultural values in the state.

Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma who stated this while declaring open an annual conference and meeting of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) held at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, recently, commended SONTA officials for choosing Nasarawa State for the conference which, according to him, would strengthen and encourage the study of the profession in the state owned university.

The governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief John Mike Abdul assured that the present administration in the state would do all it could to support the association.

Governor Doma stated that the Nasarawa State Government would continue to prioritise the promotion of cultural values through the empowering of the state cultural troupe.

While commending the officials of the association for choosing Nasarawa State for the conference and the annual meeting of the association, he donated the sum of N2 million to support the association to enable it accomplish its programmes.

In a paper presentation titled: ‘Imperative and Challenges of Rebranding Nigeria,’ the Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, who was represented by Mrs. Sheyi Abegunde of the ministry, noted that “Nigeria has a population of over 140 million people with great potentials to rebrand the whole of Africa.

Earlier in the welcome address, the national president, Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), Mr. Emmanuel Samu Dandaura commended the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma and his deputy, Chief John Mike Abdul for their commitment and support to the association.

In his remark, the vice-chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Shamsuddeen Amali described the event as historic, saying it was the first in the history of Nigeria Theatre Artists that students were invited for the conference.

The occasion which was also attended by the minister of culture and tourism, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed and other top government officials from within and outside the state, featured cultural display by the state’s cultural troupe among others.