At a time when children no longer enjoy cordiality and closeness with their parents, Heartland Tours and Educational Services Limited recently organized a public party for the Nigerian children and youths alike.
Also to provide an enduring inspiration for these green minds, Heartland invited a number of Nollywood stars including Uche Odoputa, Ifeoma Okeke, Ngozi Nwaneto, Uche Nnana, John Paul, Uche Udi among others to have a day with them.
An interesting dimension to the programme was a display of talents by the children and youths, featuring pantomime, riddles and jokes, quiz competition, drama, dance and musical presentation.
Bose Awo, a disabled lady who is also an upcoming gospel singer, thrilled the audience with her special number entitled Golden Angels. Awe used the song to extol God as the giver of life and talents aside praying to Him for greater inspiration.
Also Joy Ajunwa of Ire Akari Secondary School expressed her admiration for the programme, noting that the presence of Nollywood stars had further fired her aspiration to be a dancer in the future. She joined her fellow dancers to entertain the audience with cultural dances to which they twisted their feminine waists in the traditional Atilogwu style.
Uche Odoputa, actor, director, producer and business man who anchored the programme said that the company has been in operation for three years and that its aims and objectives include educating the child, organizing tours, helping in processing university admissions into West African Universities especially Ghana, and enlightening youths through entertainment.
He stated that the major challenges have been in the areas of sponsorship and funding. He therefore expressed his appreciation to the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Chukwuma of the Arthur line Communications and Amaka Anibogun among others who have been of immense support to the firm.
Odoputa enjoined parents in attendance to shun child abuse in any form, stressing that there is need for them to inculcate moral values into their children. He also challenged parents to join hands with such bodies like Heartland to combat child abuse and train children in the right direction.
Besides entertaining the children, the company also stressed the essence of emulating good attributes.
The presence of Nollywood stars inspired the young folks as many of them expressed their admiration for the stars, who they saw as heroes and heroines.
Juliana Edo, a Primary 4 pupil of Rosaline Private school, Okota said she loved to be like the actors, and went on to thank the organisers for giving herself and others the privilege to meet with the stars. Other children who expressed their satisfaction with the programme include Udochukwu Jenifa, Pry 3 pupil of Primas International School, Okota, Mofe Ayemose, of First Foundation school among others.
