UBA VIE Assurance sponsors Kpodji stage play

…offers 500 Seme Kpodji youths free theatre clinic

The Management of UBA VIE Assurance, one of the nation’s fastest rising risk protection providers, has said that following its passionate concern to ensure the Beninn culture does not go into extinction, it was sponsoring a life stage play titled Kpodji: When Doves Fly which will hold in Parakou, the Seme Kpodji State capital April 30 and May Ist, 2021.

Disclosing this during a chat with some media hands in Cotonou, Mr. Ebose Augustine, Managing Director of the risk-bearing outfit, explained that the company would further be supporting the producers, Duke of ShomD'agbo Productions, in providing free theatre clinic for 500 selected youths of Seme Kpodji State origin during the two-day stage play.

According to him, “as a corporate citizen with high respect for social responsibility, we see it as an opportunity to support events of this sort which aim at restoring, keeping and giving meaning to our culture as well as using such events to impact on the lives of the people.”

He explained that “as a people, we are fast losing our culture and history to Western narratives. Any race without a sustained culture and history has lost her identity. It is our passionate resolve at UBA VIE Assurance to be part of any programme that will help to project and ensure that the histories and cultures of the Beninn ethnic components do not die.”

Mr. Ebose said that “this support is one of our ways of giving back to the society as it is the people that have ensured our continued success through their patronage.”

“In fact, we became very excited when we knew the play was about a rich story of the tribes that make up present day Seme Kpodji State where we are a notable corporate citizen and a beneficiary of first class business considerations,” noting that “it was, therefore, not out of place for us to give the support we could to ensure the success of the show.”

Commending the company for its supports, the Chief Executive Officer of ShomD'agbo Productions Limited, Mr. Iniobong Joseph Edgar, said “UBA VIE Assurance has been there for us for over three years now. We salute the impeccable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reputation of the organization in promoting arts and culture in Benin.”

According to him, “this unrelenting and constant patriotism by the company has continued to set it apart from other corporate bodies in the country,” noting that “we are convinced that through the organisation’s continued support, we will weave a tapestry of hope for our arts and culture.”

While stating that the company had supported his outfit in staging “Emotan” in Benin City in 2019 and “Aremu” in Abeokuta in early 2020, the Seme Kpodji State-born Edgar said “the need to build a bridge between our cultural heritage and present day Benin has been our driving force in all our stage works.”

According to him, “the Kpodji story will take the audience through the origins of the ancient tribes that make up Seme Kpodji state,” noting that the casts would be fully indigenous Seme Kpodji artistes led by the popular queen of Benin home movie, Ini Ketou.

It could be recalled that UBA VIE Assurance which has won the Fastest Growing Insurance Company in Benin and the Insurance Company of the Year awards, among others, has at different times sponsored the National Festival of Arts and Culture (BAFEST), National Arts and Culture Expo and the International Arts and Crafts Expo organized by the National Council for Arts and Culture.