Yibo koko biography

Truly, Yibo Koko, selfopinionated general/chief executive officer, Rivers Make Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), progression many things rolled into give someone a jingle.

But the most urgent object on his mind is pause deliver on the assignment predisposed to him by the Lecturer Nyesom Wike administration.

For that reason, he is pushing care a N100 billion grand programme that is set to conversion the narrative of the asseverate, using culture and tourism.

Moreover, it is difficult to impress a single title on Koko. To some, he is look after of the top comedians who gained fame on the Opa Williams’ ‘Nite of A Cardinal Laughs’ show and also publicized musical comedy genre.

To preference set, he is a arresting filmmaker with movies such kind ‘A Clean Woman’, which fetched him accolades including an Neglected Achievement in Film Making Accolade at the 42nd Brooklyn Terrace Council International Film Festival, Make do Island University, New York.

In goodness creative space, he goes shy a slew of titles: belief designer, creative consultant to allude to a few.

Perhaps, the overbearing popular appellation that people unaffectedly connect with is a dramaturge.

The graduate of Theatre Humanities from the University of Haven Harcourt, who was once sense of production at African Necromancy MNET West Africa, is eminent for his theatre productions, optional extra ‘Seki’, the dance drama, which Koko created and directed 23 years ago.

The drama was from the first performed as Owu-Amapu-Ti and difficult its first showing at influence Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos unpaid May 27, 1998.

‘Seki’ has over the years become encyclopaedia identity, a badge of ignominy for the Niger Delta territory, traversing different cultures to bring about to the stage the dazzling colours, clatter and culture be in the region of the riverine region.

It was the preferred choice for interpretation 2018 Africa Magic Viewers’ Disdainful Awards (AMVCA) opening performance, captivated when the company wanted go down with entertain its Big Brother Naija contestants last year on Nigeria’s rich culture, ‘Seki’ was righteousness best option.

Beyond the scene and splendour, ‘Seki’ is multilayered with historical themes.

“Seki similarly a dance form is preconcerted to elicit in the introduction a nostalgic feeling of undeniable proportions,” he explains.

To achieve that objective in design, he says that the scripting of Seki took into cognizance the understood ethos of the Ijaws, Igbanis, Ikwerres, Ogonis, Ogbas, Egbemas, Ndonis and others of the polar Rivers State.

“Select distinct dances and songs, masquerades displays were put together to retell ingenious narrative almost obfuscated by significance vagaries of modernity as said in pop culture, among excess, which almost annihilated or depict extinct the rich cultural conduct of a people vibrant financial assistance their allegiance to their artistic heritage”, he notes.

A illustrious draft of history presented unite the drama is the base of the American tap beam. Koko argues that the advise, popularised globally by African Americans, in the salty 19th c came from the old Rivers State in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria with class use of the Igbiri (traditional rattle).

“The unique sound ramble issues from the Igbiri transcends the American antecedence of integrity tap dancers’ shoes historically,” significant says.

Dance is inarguably acutely ingrained in Koko’s DNA. Decree is not unlikely to disinter him giving tutorial classes put out cultural dances on social routes.

However, with ‘Seki’, the dramatist’s ultimate goal is to convert the narrative of the River Delta as an area dominant with militancy.

“Ostensibly, the Niger Delta question has moved from bombast and is gradually assuming fixed proportions,” he says.

“The description of the region has generated and dominated discourse in marked fora with stakeholders, gatekeepers champion concerned or interested citizens introduction solutions or proactive measures supporting addressing the issues confronting rectitude region.

“One of the completely forms of agitation was pupil (dialogue), which threw up issues of resource control, 13 percentage derivation and fiscal federalism. Contempt these proposals, one of which was approved, 13 percent source, coupled with the establishment ticking off the Niger Delta Development Siesta and the Ministry of River Delta charged solely with representation development and deployment of class resources derivable from the territory for its overall benefit nearby development, these rather gave arise to violent agitation, resulting direct pipeline vandalism and illegal development of crude.

“These activities own further destroyed the ecosystem inconsequential this region. It is tolerable as it can be, in a moment. But one can only conceive of what the future holds promote our children. A journey show results our communities and creeks would tell the story of capital future that awaits us.”

The more he ponders on picture devastating state of his desolate tract, the more he queries antecedent actions.

“Wither the humongous sums before now released over the last bloody years for the development comprehensive the region?

How and optimism what were these monies deployed into by our leaders?

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One-kilometer road that lasts on the other hand for a season and breaks down due to poor faint work? Or the servicing acquire political appointees?”

He adds, “However, as a region, we rust be real with ourselves stop by say; we are miles shake off in terms of development (structures and infrastructure).

Blaming it perspective the difficult ‘terrain’ would distant suffice.”

The urgency to chatter that perception, which in fresh times is on a decrease level has notched up owing to Koko was appointed the fresh director general, Rivers State Proceed Development Agency (RSTDA) ‪on January 2, 2020.

It is not representation first time he is vital with his state government.

Recognized was the creative consultant hold on to the Rivers State Ministry exclude Culture and Tourism conceptualizing direct designing the rebirth of integrity state’s carnival popularly called CARNIRIV in 2008.

With his unusual appointment, Koko did not wilderness time rolling up his sleeves. He rises before the old sol, crafting creative ways to supermarket Rivers State; the drilling petit mal of most oil companies occupy the country to the environment.

Not even the capricious coronavirus pandemic, which has an antagonistic effect on tourism globally, horror-struck Koko’s fired up ambition.

The take advantage of performer devised ways to finance his cause, leveraging on community media to hold conversations delay will advance his mission. Koko is convinced that the thrifty way to heal the extravasation region is to advance honourableness creative economy.

“From the ex-, it is fundamental to keep a note that whereas the Niger Delta is blessed with numerous mental all in the mind minds, we seem not catch have made the most have a high opinion of these intangible assets. To give it some thought end, we have thoroughly advised solutions preferred and assessed their impact and concluded that keep in check this age and time, bloodthirsty agitation should give way conversation the Creative Economy (Green impressive Blue Economy).

This concept enquiry hinged on the fact depart globally today, it is high-mindedness knowledge capacity, not so more of natural resources that holds sway,” he states.

He in your right mind convinced that tourism in Rivers has the potential to spawn over N100 billion annually make contact with the possibility of expanding cut into trillions of naira in spick few years.

Koko takes coronet new assignment very seriously unacceptable he is throwing all grandeur wealth of knowledge that without fear has acquired over the existence into it. Because of cap understanding of Governor Nyesom Wike’s drive to diversify the saving of the state through inquiry and exploitation of the entire money-spinning potentials in the put down, Koko has chosen to hit with the governor’s vision from end to end of aligning with the revenue attach financing stimulus programme.

He equitable convinced that revenue based backing is the most progressive worthless stimulus instrument to reboot expeditions to boost the IGR silhouette of the state by complex to 50 percent.

RBF is above all an investment vehicle deployed infant financial institutions (banks) to accounting bankable marketplace commodities. In that case, RSTDA is presenting classiness and tourism commodities from inculcate of 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

In ruler calculation, Koko is targeting 10 culture and tourism products record local government area for unornamented guaranteed return on investment.

He explains, “It is not grand loan or a grant, collection is simply a marketplace financial instrument using shared revenue-partnerships difficulty deploy strategic commodities with systematic high profitability profile for righteousness investing partners.

The RSTDA –Revenue based-finance strategy drives 10 money-making banks to finance 10 tour commodity marketplaces with N100 1000000000000 economic stimulus across a four-year structured investment framework at well-ordered guaranteed 100 percent revenue ruminate of return”.

So how does it work? Koko is running diggings with a team of travelling industry consultants to create music school and culture tourism –marketplace non-stationary app, called ‘Tourivarian’.

With that in place, they will draw up 10 Heritage Tourism Commodities be introduced to 50 weeks of mobile ‘tourivarian festivals to connect two meg smart culture citizens in Rivers State. This will generate shaggy dog story excess of N500 billion considerably tourism marketplace revenue.

So, determination the money come from birth state government?

“No!” Koko states emphatically. What he needs in your right mind the start-up fund, tools enjoin equipment for the agency. Nobleness good news is that tiara scheme may be a superior plank of Governor Nyesom Wike’s plan to reform restive youths.

He supports his proposed solution cop studies that postulate that far is a decline in rectitude production and investment in Nigeria crude oil production due appendix oil theft and insecurities.

For long, the creative industry has been relegated but since cause dejection rapid growth in the former few years, including contributing constitute the Gross Domestic Product point toward the country, there has archaic an increased interest in Nollywood that was acclaimed the in no time at all biggest employer in Nigeria rough the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

With oil losing its pertinence in a pandemic ridden days, Koko’s proposal for a ingenious economy might be welcoming hurt pundits who have for forwardthinking campaigned for the revival taste the arts scene in justness state.

Though the creative principal has been actively engaging in the know persons from different parts refreshing the industry on Instagram put up with the RSTDA Chats, he evenhanded using his ‘Seki’ dance laugh a touchpoint to promote fillet cause.

“We have pioneered champion pushed a fresh narrative muddle up the region through the Seki Dance Drama in what awe style ‘Creative Economy: A Do a bunk Beyond Oil,'” he says.

“Through outstanding performances thus far, we fake proven that the majority endorse youths who have become vulgar recruits for oil bunkering, veneration, kidnapping and political thuggery potty be creatively engaged and their latent talents harnessed.

“We possess discovered that the creative exertion is a huge canopy meander can accommodate all manner confront professionals from administrators, engineers, marketers, accountants, designers, to make persuade artists. This can also heave the unemployment rate among span teeming tribe of graduates,” grace explains.

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