Bloggers in Imo State, have hailed the efforts of veteran artiste Ugo Stevenson in packaging the 2016 edition of ‘Smile Heartland’.
The event which took place on Sunday June 26, 2016 at Rock View Hotels Owerri, Imo State in partnership with the office of the recently appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment, Hon. Chukwunonye Irouno.
Speaking after receiving an award on behalf of the state’s blogger, the CEO of otowngist.com, Chinedu Hardy Nwadike described the idea behind the event as a step in the right direction. He described the facilitators as blessings to our generation, calling on all entertainers and media practitioners to work with the brand new spirit the event has created.
“It has always been our dream to have a strong synergy between entertainers and the media in the state because it is the only way we can grow the industry” he said. “Ugo Stevenson has always been in the picture, fighting to lift others with his resources. His selflessness is second to none and by using the experience he has acquired in both the media and entertainment industries, he has shown that he really wants things to change here for good”
On the commitment of Hon. Chukwunonye Irouno, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment, Hardy said: “I have never seen anyone like him before, not even the entertainers who held that office in the past has shown this kind of commitment. For the first time, in the administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha, entertainers can now cross the ocean between them and the government. I have watched him act; I have listened to him speak, but one thing I know for sure is that if he continues like this, his name will be crested in the hearts of artistes in the state within a short time”
Smile Heartland 2016 is a ‘thank you’ event organized by Imo State Based Artistes, in a bid to appreciate media practitioners in the state and also to work out modalities that will help both industries prosper.
The event which attracted who is who in the state, also saw some prominent sons of the state honoured as Arts Patrons, while some others who have distinguished themselves in the media, were honored as Friends of Entertainers.
Wife of the state governor, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha; Speaker of the state House of Assembly Hon. Acho Ihim; Former Speaker of the State House Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu; Veteran show promoter and Commissioner, Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri amongst others were dignitaries that graced the event.
