2012 One-Day Lagos State Governor, Lilian Ogbuehi Wins Scores Of Award In Diaspora
LAGOS MAY 3RD (NEWSRANGERS)-One woman who is making Nigerians Proud both home and in the diaspora is ,Lilian Ogbuefi.The 22-year -old ,2012 one day Lagos State governor .Ogbuefi ,like the nobel prize winner ,Chimanda Adiche ,has stated being recognized in far away United states of America (USA).She has started winning awards both home and abroad .In this interview ,she expressed gratitude to the Lagos State government for helping in bringing out her talent.
Excerpts
How it all began
Really ,it all began in 2012 when I won a spelling Bee competition organized by the Lagos State government. Immediately I won the Spelling Bee,my life is no more the same.First,I became a one day governor in Lagos state .I toured the state and I addressed the house as a governor ,even though it was a mock governor. I was given scholarship to study in the USA,so ,I graduated in Fisk University ,Nashville, Tennessee. I have graduated from the university and I am working now .I am doing some writings that have drawn the world’s attention to Nigeria.I am bringing pride to my country.
Awards
Really, I have won awards in Nigeria and other countries. For example ,I was the Best Essay writer ,LASTMA\LASSTSAP 2009,I got District Five Education Recognition /Merit Award 2012,but the one that really gave me life was the spelling Bee 2012.Those were given to me in Nigeria,but in the USA, I won the Best Cameo Appearance -Crack players ,Nashville in 2017.
I have done a film ,Framed that is making waves both locally and internationally. My film has been accepted in two film festivals, one in film festival,Lagos and Houston. I have another drama,Dr Mekam which is set to revolutionalised the movie cum cinema landscape in Nigeria. The movie is like a mirror that has mirrored the Nigerian society.
In December 2016,following the death of my father, I wrote and produced a short film during my final year in the college, that has now been accepted into two film festivals. The African film festival,Houston and the in- short film festival ,Lagos .
The film is based loosely on a true life story .While in School,I saw different cases of students being abused ,cases that were most times covered up by the people in power. Because there is so much heated debate about what constitutes to abuse in current day society .It was increasingly difficult for some of the victims to speak up. They were made to believe that abuse was only limited to sexual intercourse and physical molestation didn’t count .I wrote the film to shed light on the forms of sexual abuse that occur on College campuses and how they can affect the Victims.
Being a broke student at that time ,I had a budget of $100 which is ridiculously little ,but the film came out great and is a big testimony
Idol
I don’t really have someone I see see as my idol,but I have two persons that I look up to,Mo Abidu,who is the Chief Executive Officer ,Ebony Life TV and Producer of weeding party ,she is breaking across cultural boundaries, bridging the gap between western and African cultures. Another person that I look up to is Lupita Nyongo,a small town girl whom I used to watch on Shuga pursues her dream in the big city and now an accadamy award winner. I believe that if both can do it,I can do it .
My mother
My mother ,Christiana Ogbuefi ,played a very significant role in my life.When she noticed that I was talented ,that was during my primary school,she used to buy me novels,especially African novels.She did not discourage me from reading all through my holidays and watching some TV programme like KKB show.It was from KKB show that I saw an advert that needed a script wrter ,I copied the number. I was interviewed and I was featured in the show.When I was in Kankon Badagry , I was not selected in competition, then I used to complain to my mother,but one day, my principal was celebrating his birthday, and I wrote a poem for her,and she was impressed and she started including me in competitions.Through the competitions, I won the spelling Bee that brought me to limelight.
Advise to Youths
The country is not easy ,but the youths should grab the opportunity given to them by organizations that are into scholarship schemes. Like in Lagos State,there are so many competitions going on.I came to limelight through spelling Bee.Without it ,I may not have been known and my talent may have been wasted.Grab the opportunity and move on.The spelling Bee put together by New Era Foundation, is doing well especially for iindigent students.I am from Anambra State,yet the Lagos State government gave me the opportunity to participate. I want to thank the Lagos state government, New Era Foundation and Chief Mrs Oluremi Tinubu for helping to mould feature leaders.They are doing fantastically well.
Appeal
I want to appeal to corporate organisations ,individuals ,Federal and State governments to help the youth to grow.Most of the youths have the talents to excel,but are confused ,they should be assisted through programme like talent search.Other state governments should emulate the Lagos state government that is helping the youths through programmes that offer scholarship schemes
.I was given 75 percent scholarship to study abroad and today,I have graduated. I also want to thank the USA government that has been welcoming such gestures .I want the government to do more.While I want parents to always encourage their children in whatever project or talents they have.
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Posted by News Rangers
on May 3 2018. Filed under Interview, State.
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