A onetime Nigerian Highlife Artiste of the Year, Ugo Stevenson has lamented the difficulty in marketing an Igbo brand in the Nigeria, adding that it is a difficult as even though Igbos are the most industrious and talented tribe in Nigeria, they are still the least appreciated.
He spoke during the All Igbo Music Awards tagged Ekwe Awards which took place Rockview Hotels Owerri, Imo State on Sunday January 24, 2016.
Ugo Stevenson decried the lack of support from individuals and corporate bodies in promoting Igbo brands even when UNESCO has said that the language and the cultures of the Igbo man is going on extinction.
He hailed Igbo music artistes in their various genres, calling them the real ambassadors of the tribe because for every Igbo song that is played, you hear the language, feel the culture and outfits. He then urged Igbos to support their own to ensure that Igbo Music will thrive globally and not play second fiddle to songs made with other languages in Nigeria.
Mr. Stevenson revealed that the Award Ceremony which was designed to honour Igbo Artistes could not have taken place if not that he had to use his car as a collateral for a loan.
“I went to through hell to host this event, I even begged the devil for money but could not get it”, he said, while delivering his address at the event.
“To avoid putting Igbos to shame, I had to let go of my car to get a befitting venue for the event and why people were clamouring that I should have used the Bong Square, I told them that Bongo does not have a square in Imo State.
“The place is empty and there are no equipment like what we have here in that place.”
He then called on Igbo musicians to sit up as their Yoruba Counterparts are becoming ambassadors of telecommunication brands while also urging the brands to change their attitudes and look the other side.
On the state of the Nze Dan Orji Bongo Square, he urged the state government to equip the place to ensure that it achieves the goal for which it was set up.
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