By Our Reporter
Residents of Karaworo Community in Lokoja were treated to more than just entertainment as students of the Department of Theatre Arts, Federal University Lokoja (FUL), took their message of unity, self-help, and peaceful coexistence to the community through drama performances.
The outreach formed part of the department’s 2026 Community Theatre Project, a practical academic exercise that saw 300-level students use theatre as a tool for social change.
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Through a series of thought-provoking performances, the students highlighted everyday challenges facing the community, including poor road networks, water scarcity, irregular power supply, and the divisions caused by tribalism, religious differences, and lack of cooperation. Their message was clear: communities can achieve meaningful progress when residents come together, embrace dialogue, and work collectively toward common goals.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Gbenga Ibileye, praised the initiative, describing it as a valuable bridge between the university and its host communities. He noted that Theatre Arts has become one of the most sought-after humanities programmes in the institution and emphasized that learning should have a direct impact on society.
According to him, the students’ performances were helping residents identify challenges and discover practical solutions they could pursue without waiting entirely on government intervention. He also proposed the creation of a joint university-community committee to monitor identified issues and engage relevant authorities where necessary.
Prof. Ibileye encouraged the students to see their talents as opportunities for entrepreneurship, urging those skilled in costume design, stage production, makeup, playwriting, and event management to transform their creativity into sustainable businesses.
“The job is already in you,” he told the students. “Use your skills to earn a living, create opportunities, and become employers of labour.”
Head of the Department of Theatre Arts, Dr. Felix Egwuda, explained that the community theatre project is a six-credit course that contributes to the students’ academic assessment. He noted that the programme involves not only identifying community challenges but also returning later to evaluate progress and encourage further action.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Awam David Menegbe, said the students first conducted research within the community before developing performances tailored to the issues they discovered.
He described Karaworo residents as exceptionally welcoming and supportive, noting that the level of hospitality shown by the community was among the best he had experienced in more than four decades of community theatre work.
Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Sunday Ikpelemoh explained that community theatre remains a vital part of FUL’s curriculum because it allows students and residents to jointly examine social and cultural challenges while seeking practical solutions. He added that previous projects in communities such as Adankolo and Ganaja had led to noticeable improvements in sanitation, security, and communal participation.
One of the major highlights of the event was the presentation of several short plays by 86 students from the Faculty of Theatre and Arts. The performances addressed pressing concerns ranging from water shortages and cholera outbreaks to poor roads, frequent vehicle damage, and unstable electricity supply.
For student participant Yakubu Paul, the central lesson from all the performances was the importance of unity.
“If people can put aside pride, tribalism, and religious differences, come together, and discuss their challenges, they can help themselves and also engage the right leaders for support,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Lokoja, HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda-Shelika, Yampa IV, commended the students for accurately identifying the community’s challenges while
promoting harmony and collective responsibility.
Reminding residents that development begins with citizens themselves, he remarked, “There is no human being called government. We are the government.”
He urged community members to embrace a more communal mindset and work together for the common good, while also acknowledging ongoing efforts by the Kogi State Government in areas such as water supply, salary payments, and the maintenance of peace.
As the programme concluded, the Department of Theatre Arts reaffirmed its commitment to returning to the community to monitor progress and ensure that the recommendations emerging from the project continue to receive attention in the years ahead.
