The 2011 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) to be held on 27 March in Bayelsa, Nigeria, was launched at a special event on Friday 18 February and was addressed by Bayelsa State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr Charles Opuala Slyva.
The awards themed “Experience Bayelsa With AMAA’ is geared to creating economic growth in Bayelsa state by promoting tourism and the creative talents of young people, said the commissioner.
“We want to involve the people in the celebration as visitors from all parts of the world will come to the state during the event,’ said the commissioner. “Our people will take full advantage of the event through various programmes and activities that will add value to the lives of our teeming youths in areas of talent discovery and development.,’
While naming the activities that have been lined up for the week long celebration, AMAA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe said visitors coming to Bayelsa this year will have a new experience with the people and the sights and sounds of Bayelsa.
She noted that the economy of the stated will witness a boost as visitors will spend money to patronize local goods and services because “Experience Bayelsa with AMAA 2011’ will be a platform for destination branding. AMAA is also partnering with the state Tourism Development and Publicity Bureau to positively project the state to the outside world.
“As a prelude to the celebration, AMAA in collaboration with the state government has begun the training of 50 Bayelsa youths in various aspects of film production. Another activity expected to run for two weeks before the main event is called Kinabuti. This is targeted at rural based girls with potentials and qualities to be super models. About 50 of them would be pre-selected to undergo various stages of grooming and the best
among them will model for renowned fashion outfits.’
Anyiam-Osigwe also revealed that “Bayelsa 8’ a talent-hunt show will be part of the Experience Bayelsa 2011 and that will involve 500 youths with interest in entertainment-film, music, comedy etc. An arts and craft fair will be heldalongside AMAA to promote the work of local art and craft men and women.
“The craft fair will encourage local craftsmen, painters, sculptors to make money from their craft as the over 1000 foreign guests expected during the event will patronize them for memorabilia,’ she enthused.
Experience Bayelsa with AMAA according to Anyiam-Osigwe was planned to create a vast network of socio-economic activities that will stimulate the local economy adding that all these will climax with a night of glitz and glamour on Saturday 27th March with the AMAA awards.
