THE OTHER 19 MEN We create jobs by the choices we make. -Nigeria Minister of Agriculture On the 1st of September every year we celebrate the birth of Nite Geography as an entity and this year was not an exception. The 19th anniversary of Nite Geography had began this year with a Business clinic for young entrepreneurs at Merit House, symposium 2, Maitama Abuja with the Artistic director of one of Nigeria most celebrated theatre company the Blackbones Theatre Kompany being one of the speaker at the event, and for a young entrepreneur who have had the opportunity of leading over thirty staff of his company as head of Nigeria cultural contingent to four international event held in the three continent Africa, Asia and South America for (1) The Nigeria Achievement Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa (2009) (2) World Expo, Shanghai, China (2010) (3) The 30th anniversary of Nigeria-South Korea diplomatic relations, South Korea (2010) and (4)Venezuela Cultural Festival, Venezuela (2012) the participants at the event were no doubt excited to listen to an accomplished theatre practitioner. The other speaker at the event was the Chief Executive Officer of Nite Geography Mr. Peter Oshioreamhe Umole, a Playwright, a Poet, a Novelist and a Theatre financial who is no doubt currently heading of one of Nigeria fastest growing theatre brand with a vibrant subsidiary ensemble theatre company called Mass Drumming Entertainment to his credit as an entrepreneur. OUR BEGINNING: Nite geography was founded by Mr. Peter Oshioreamhe Umole on the 1st of September 1994 as a student dance group with the mission of promoting repertoires in the school, he was then an eighteen years old final year art student in Government Secondary School, Bwari-Abuja. The dance group staged his first script drama in the school’s annual Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting where students from the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level were brought together under his mentorship to perform Nigeria’s Ola Rotimi’s celebrated play, Ovarenwem Noghesi. As the then Vice president of the school’s History Society and one of the member of the school Debating Society he made sure that all the group’s drama performances were tied to the historical accuracy of the true African experience and that audience were given the opportunity to learn from the performances and also take advantage of the opportunity to make intellectual contributions to the enjoyment of literature in the school, because the instruction from the founder was a specific statement in search of a general understanding which laid emphasis on the point that said ‘no student or staff should meet us and leave us the same’, and because of the oratory Skills of the founder many student from the art classes who were offering the compulsory subject of literature soon became regular faces in the group’s weekly rehearsals until the last week before his final exams. The moment the founder of the dance group Mr. Peter Oshioreamhe Umole graduated from the school drama as a form of human communication disappeared from the school routine and that became the first leadership lesson of the founder and it is the one that says ‘without the mission the vision will die’ so that in practice terms a company should be owned by the staff that executes the mission and the founder who interprets the vision should only be the owner of the company in theory. This important lesson was put in practice eight years later at the Benson Idahosa University were Mr. Peter Oshioreamhe Umole became an undergraduate and decided to re-introduce the vision of the dance group under the same concept that it was founded in 1994 in the quiet secondary school at Bwari, a concept that was to help student address the issues of their boredom and their search for a sense of self actualization. The same year that the vision of the founder was re-introduce into a university environment a new name was given to the mission for the first time and it was known as Gate Fee; two words that came to stand for ‘student investment’ and ‘theatre revolution’ on campus since Gate Fee was the first theatre group in the university to encourage student to invest in campus events and was also the first to sell event ticket above N100, before now almost every theatre performance on campus was organized almost at no cost to student even though production was always at a high cost on the side of the organizers who were too scared to tell student to pay for theatre presentations above N20. Gate Fee’s first drama presentation titled The Dialogue of The Blind (2002) written and directed by Mr. Peter Oshioreamhe Umole was a huge success that had over 150 students in attendance in a young university of only 300 students at the time and it became the first theatre group to (1) Successfully used the school auditorium for commercial purposes (2) Apply the concept of stage construction and interior decoration to theatre performance (3) Use three uninterrupted month to mobilize the school’s largest cast of student actors numbering 40 (4) To write the first script drama on campus were presentations were made word for word (5) The first midnight nonstop drama presentation of eight hours (6) The first drama to bring over twenty students from other university to grace the school’s occasion (7) The first drama to give ticket-sticker souvenir to student audience. Other successful theater production made possible by Gate Fee in Benson Idahosa University are; A Nuisance on Pajamas (2003) and Dancers on a Broken Canoe (2004). In 2012 Gate Fee was transformed into a metropolitan consultancy theatre company with the new name of Nite Geography and was given the new business mandate of giving publicity to theatre companies and event venues in Africa. The word ‘Nite (night)’ stands for live theatre entertainment and the word ‘Geography’ stands for any where (place and people) that human beings can exist. It has as its official logo a four man silhouette acrobatic team making a simple acrobatic display of victory in front of a full moon that is half way encircled by an olive branch. The four men represent three categories of people that our business stands for: (1) The man kneeing down who appears to form the base of the acrobatic display and who seems very determined to carry the other three men stands for the millions of unemployed youth out there in the street that we look up to as the true source of our success, he is on his knees as if he wants to propose to a lady because he is making a request to society to be given the opportunity that will make it possible for the other men to stand strong and complete their mission (2) The two men standing between the man kneeling and the man standing represent our partners and sponsors who always meet us half way in to the execution of our plans (3) The man standing in front of the moon with his mans raised to the sky represent our clients and audience for who’s interest our company exist to protect, his raised hands is only a demonstration of gratitude and willingness to embrace all our effort towards him. The four men put together stands for mobility and flexibility (i.e. this is the concept that the ‘geography’ represent), the moon stands for live theatre entertainment (i.e. this is the concept that the ‘nite’ represent). The olive branch stands for peace, dignity and wealth and it is the trademark of nite geography which will appear in all her subsidiary companies and franchise. The corporate activities of nite geography is divided into three (3) (1) Core business services: Consultancy & Refurbishment (2) Auxiliary business services: Retail, Outsourcing & Rentals (3) Our Entertainment, Training & Sales services is effectively managed by our theatre subsidiary called ‘Mass Drumming Entertainment Company’ OUR PRESENT: (A) OUR VISION: (1) To reduce poverty in Africa through theatre by creating regular job opportunities in our planned subsidiaries, franchise and affiliate companies. (we have perfected our job creation strategy to create 50,000 in five years in the senior, middle and junior level management category and we are currently working with various government ministries and non government organizations to achieve this target across africa) (2) The promotion of African literature through stage adaptations and regular drama tours (3) The publication of literary works to preserve the historical accuracy of the Africa experience (4) Engineering the process of low cost commercial innovations to help reduce the high cost of theatre production (5) Creating an investment platform for companies and individuals interested in the growth of African theatre by organizing regular theatre seminars (6) The need to protect the imagination of children through creative programs that exposes them to the beauty of art (7) The concerns for the need to protect democratic values in Africa (8) The need to preserve the pride of royal institutions in Africa (9) The concern over the sanctity of human life anywhere in the world (10) The need to preserve the bond of relationship, marriage and family life on planet earth (B) OUR MISSION: (1) To make live theatre entertainment a major commercial activity in the business district of major cities in Africa (2) To inspire theatre companies in Africa to work together as a collective brand of companies with the common goal of making the world a better place (3) To serve as an international instrument for conflict resolution in Africa (4) To bring happiness, knowledge and self worth in to peoples life so that they can substitute religion for love, patriotism for peace and business for charity. (5) To capture 40% of Africa market share index (6) To contribute 15% to every nations GDP through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (C) OUR TRADE SECRET: Is still a secret (D) OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY: Our business strategy comes from the maneuvering concept of battle strategies adopted by Generals and tacticians of war where there are always three flanks for an army quick aggressive advancement and only one condition of re-enforcement for their retreat. Our business strategy is tied to: (1) Encouraging massive job creation by budgeting for corporate offices in different states, regions, nations and continent in the three categories of Office staff, Stage employee and Work station experts. (2) An exclusive research department that focuses on: (a) Market competition (b) New relevant technology to theatre (c) The economy and legal frame work of nations as it relates to the issues of immigration and trade (d) Bestselling books, celebrated authors and international literary prizes (e) Theatre events around the world with special emphasis on their client base and event concept (f) Global trend and issues of globalization as it relates to international institutions (3)Setting up a network of professionals to create media concepts for our massive publicity through weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual and annual events in the areas where we plan to have an office in the future (a) OUR MONTHLY EVENT: Dance drama (an infusion of Africa cultural dances and contemporary dance steps) Stage adaptations (base on African writers celebrated works) (b) OUR QUARTERLY EVENT: Business clinic (for young entrepreneurs) Business seminar (an investment platform for companies interested in theatre) Book luncheon (period marking the sale of our CEO literary works) (c) OUR BIANNUAL EVENT: Photo-shoot modeling competition (a search for models interested in commercial photography) Theatre auditions competition (a platform to promote theatre practice) Variety show (the search for young talent in performing art) Job recruitment (our poverty reduction project) Spoken word artistry show (a platform for oratory expressions) Storytelling show (a platform to encourage creative narratives) Hand shadow puppet (a platform for foreign collaboration and technological transfer agreement) Poetry show (a search for creative writers whose work we would love to publish) Business tourism (our official vacation period for staff, employees and experts in senior level management) (d) OUR ANNUAL EVENT: Literary buffet ( a platform designed to bring together all the celebrated young Africa writers so that they can enjoy a level of professional acquaintance) OUR FUTURE: (A) OUR BUSINESS GROUTH: Focuses on a five years prosperity plan in the following areas: (1) Subsidiary: Ensemble theatre, Fast food, Metropolitan magazine, Publishing, Recording studio. Costume label and fashion house, Photo studio. (2) Franchise: Bookshop, Cinema, Cruise ship, Amusement park, Art gallery. Gymnastic centre. (3) Affiliate: Drama tour management services (B) OUR BUSINESS EXPANSION: Focuses on a twenty years posterity plan in the following area: (1) Multinational company: In at least five countries in the five continents of the world (2) Listed in the stock exchange: In the major business cities of the world (3) Real estate: Pier, Amphitheatre, Warehouse, OUR 19 MEN The success of Nite Geography over the years have not being the tireless effort of one man alone but rather have depended heavily on the contributions of other men and women of great integrity whose sacrifice cannot go unmentioned. This group of people we have decided to call the other 19 men to reflect the 19th anniversary of our company. Their contributions and names are as follows: 1994: Paul Okon (Adviser and Spiritual support) Augustina Kolawole (Adviser) Peter Isitua (Adviser) Gerald Osimeke (Adviser) 1998 Prof. U. B. Gbenedion (Adviser) Pastor Inyanguwem Ememobong (adviser) Elder E. M. Obadan (adviser) 1999 U. M. Agbonkpolor (Adviser) 2001 Kate Ebhodaghe (Adviser, Financial, spiritual and emotional support) Osagie Omoregie (Adviser and Financial) Kessy Aiguo (As she then was) (Adviser and Financial) Emmanuel Awipi (Adviser) Precious Ikhuiwurefe (Adviser) Stanley Otoijamun (Adviser) Blessing E. Ofeosi (Enehizena) (Adviser) 2002: Daniel Ezomo (Actor, Adviser and Financial) Patrick Udugba (Actor) James Oghenekaro (Actor) Uyi Agbovoh (Actress and Adviser) Jessy Etaroghene Abolor (Actor) Joy Iweka (As she then was) (Adviser) Blessing Ofeosi (As she then was) (Adviser) 2003 Jessica otse Umole (Kayode) (Adviser and Financial) Odigie Anthony Osahon (Adviser and Technical support) Blessing Jim (Jeje) (Actress) Pius Odioko Jr. (Financial) Bose Udugbezi (Erhuen) (Actress, Adviser and Financial) Eustace Ihinmekphen (Actor) Jude Iyobosa Omoshie (Financial) Matthias Okeke (Technical support) Timothy Akande (Adviser) Oluwadunni boyinbode (As she then was) (Adviser) Freddie Airohi (Adviser and Spiritual support) 2004 King Richard Joe (Adviser) Judith Iwaoma Ohomele (As she then was) (Adviser) Austin Okai (Adviser) 2005 Juliet Ogbechie (As she then was) (Actress) Joy Ogochukwu Ezeka (As she then was) (Actress) Omowodu Ogbe (Actor) Ayodele Pascal Elebiyo (Adviser and Financial) 2008 Tare Uzono (Adviser, Financial, intellectual and Spiritual support) 2010 Gugulethu Ntiwane (Adviser) George Lawrence Umole( Financial) 2011 Princess C.I.A (Adviser, Financial, intellectual, Spiritual and Emotional support) 2012 Victor Nwejinaka (Adviser) Bar. Alex Osilama Umole (Adviser and Financial) Emike Princess Umole (Financial) Decent Onwuemelie (Adviser) Victor Adesipe (Adviser) 2013 Dr.Jerry Joe Umole (Adviser, Financial and Spiritual support) Deaconess Comfort Umole (Adviser, Financial and Spiritual support) Bar. Somi Umole (Adviser and Financial) Mary Inikori (Adviser and Financial) Didi Nwela (Adviser and Technical support) National Directorate of Employment (Adviser) National Orientation Agency (Adviser) Kayode Aiyegbusi (Adviser) Debo Oyeniyen (Technical support) Jerry Adesewo (Adviser) These are among the few individuals whose contributions we have properly documented in our ‘19 men’ database, there are still many great men and women of integrity out there whose names and contributions to our company’s humble beginning are yet to be evaluated and given their proper place in our progress report.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 14:24:05 +0000
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