President AIMM making a speech during the event
The Conference of Idoma Artistes (CIDA 2010) have come and gone but the memory still lingers in the heart of those that attended. The epoch-making event took place at the YAF precinct off Bongos Avenue, Otukpo and was presided by Ameh Comrade Godwin of the
Movie Reporters Guild of Nigeria (MORGON). In his speech, the national president of Association of Idoma Movie Makers (AIMM) Chief Ernest Igah of the Arts Temple Production call on all Idoma artistes to be hardworking and submissive to their calling, noting that "I don’t see possibility for the word “perfection” here on mother-earth, hence “improvement”. You cannot become perfect but you can improve even rapidly. It’s high time we started aiming at improvement and not perfection, because journey to perfection without proper organization leads to destruction. Criticism is the strength of any man; if you’ve not been criticized, beware that the tendency for you to relegate is broad. Speaking further, the veteran producer-cum-artistes affirmed that they still have a lot of holes to cover. "If we must conquer the world; we have to start for the root; we must remove this beam in our eye before looking into something else.
Brothers in
progresstainment lets make unity our watchword. In a keynote address entitled
Idoma: The Way Forward delivered by Ameh Comrade Godwin of MORGON Lagos, he enjoied all entertainers from Idomaland to embrace the spirit of love and unity. "
I just want to use this short piece to preach the way forward as an ordained prophet by angry forefathers in the grave. It is written, “Pain is real when you get other people to believe in it. If no one believes in it but only you, then your pain would equally snowball into bewilderment, madness, lunacy or hysteria. I don’t know if anyone is feeling this pain in my heart.
The tour to the Promised Land has long begun and we could only achieve it if we are all ready to go on this journey together. Let’s march on, no one should be left behind, children, the youth and adults should join the train, let us go forward in order to achieve our dream, the dream of our long awaiting Apa state, the talents-based of the nation.
We should fear no wall of Jericho, thorns, obstructions and sharp stones that had been precluding us from crossing to the other side. Here comes the future, the past is tomb, while our future is in God’s womb. If we have made mistakes before, there is always another chance for us to bid farewell to the Egyptian wasps and scorpions. Lets rejuvenate this forgotten land in order for this malnutrition baby to suck the breast of her dear mum.
The good book stated it clearly: For everything there is a season, And a time for every matter under heaven … A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted… A time to break down, and a time to build up … A time for war, and a time for peace. We’ve been warring; its high time we settled for peace; we’ve been planting, lets wake to reap the fruit of our labour, we’ve long refrained from embrace, lets clings to each other for the betterment of our land and lay a good foundation for the unborn generation. Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible – kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family says veteran writer, George Eliot.
We should note that a traveler is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep. So knowledge of one culture should sharpen our ability to go on progressively.
O my dear fatherland! Why do we fail to see the doors opened before us? Is it because we often look so long and regretfully upon the closed-door sequel to our past misstep?
In this race to achieving our goal, we should learn how to accomplish great things, dream about greatness and not only plan, but also believe in ourselves.
Like Mother Teresa would say, “we have to keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore let us be extremely patient with each other’s faults and failures.
Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season.”
It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year.
It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow.
Today is the seedtime, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.
It is more important to know where we are going than to get there quickly without achieving anything. Do not mistake activity for achievement.
Idoma’oladam! It is high we achieved our dream, the achievement can only be actualized through collective efforts. James Baldwin once wrote, “ Nothing is forever fixed, the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, and the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born, so, we are responsible for everything for them because we are the only witnesses they have.
The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other, and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the sea of shame, failure would engulf us and the light will go out.”
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, and a gift too. A man’s dreams are an index to his greatness.
In the course of this journey, we should beware of those ahead of us, because Ogbobu Okenwa, Ogbisi Wudrogu (If a frog in front falls into a pit, the one at the back should take caution)".
Ameh disclosed that awards should be enrolled to further consolidate the producers, awards such as:
i. Best Movie of the year
ii. Best epic movie
iii. Best didactic movie
iv. Best romance
v. Best religious movie
vi. Best comedy movie.
Also
i. Best actor
ii. Best actress
iii. Best producer
iv. Best director
v. Best writer
vi. Best screen player
vii. Youngest actor
viii. Best indigenous movie to mention.
"I therefore call on us to be hard working and dedicated to our calling. I pray that may our quest for the realization".
Present at the meeting were
Ernest O Igah
Patrick Oche
Bosco Production
St. Godwin Ochola
Obela Shedrack
Ogboji Abraham Ogboji
Austine Icheka
Daniel Akpa
James Ijachi
Gideon Ameh
Friday Ugwu
Aisha Virginia Idankpo
Justina Eyum Ezechukwu
Dororthy A Okoko
Ohepo Amedu
Ada Johnson Van
Evelyn Ekoja etc.
Dinner after the meeting