By Valentine Amanze
A Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, has launched a virtual talent contest named “Anambra Talent UNLOCKED.”
While addressing supporters at Oba in Idemili council on Saturday, August 15, 2020, Ozigbo said that the project was to empower Anambra State indigenes and residents.
He also explained: “Riding off the impressive success of our Freestyle UNLOCKED Africa 2020 contest, our Foundation thought it necessary to extend our UNLOCKED brand to the entertainment world.”
“We created this new platform, Anambra Talent UNLOCKED, because we believe there is innate greatness in everyone of us but that pool of talent needs an opportunity for expression.”
According to a statement by the Valentine ChinetoOzigbo (VCO) Foundation, the contest is open to people from Anambra State who live in Nigeria or residents of the southeastern states.
To participate, contestants will have to record a one-minute video of their performance in any of the four categories, music, dance, drama, or comedy and email the video to the talenthunt@vcofoundation.org.
Ozigbo however disclosed that various cash prizes totaling N500,000 were to be won in what he said promises to be the first of its kind in the country.
“We made history in freestyle football last month, when we succeeded at doing what we set out to do, which was to UNLOCK the UNLIMITED human potential by exploring and exploiting technologies to overcome the barriers of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Pulled by this grand vision of our Foundation, we are replicating this concept and extending the opportunity to Ndi Anambra to overcome the challenges of the times and be discovered, cultivated, and celebrated,” Ozigbo said.
On why he decided to focus on developing entertainment at a time when many televised talent hunts have been halted, Ozigbo extolled the power of the arts and popular culture in shaping society.
“I firmly believe that the arts play a unique role in the renewal of the collective consciousness of our people; a revival that is important and urgent if we are to walk into the bigger, better, and brighter future of our dreams.
“Through performing, visual, and literary arts, our talents can send messages of equality, kindness, and altruism that will resonate in the hearts and minds of our people. When these happen, the sense of perfection that is in every one of us is stirred and made manifest,” the businessman said.
Anambra Talent UNLOCKED is a platform for indigenes of Anambra in four performing arts – drama, dance, music, and comedy, to showcase their unique talent. It is sponsored by Valentine ChinetoOzigbo (VCO) Foundation, a philanthropically endeavor founded by the business leader.
Mr. Ozigbo is one of the leading aspirants in the forthcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ozigbo is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, said.
