Press Release
This high-octane, two-day theatrical and educational experience will come alive on June 4th and 5th, 2026, at the prestigious Corona Secondary School (CSS), Agbara, Ogun State. The event promises a unique convergence of star-studded Nollywood actors, corporate leaders, the Black Image Theatre Troupe, and the school’s talented drama students.
TheatreMania Africa is a premier creative organisation dedicated to the promotion, production, and preservation of African theatre, cultural heritage, and youth talent development across the continent. Through targeted interventions like the GNT Initiative, it continuously bridges the gaps between the industry, corporate sectors, and educational systems
TheatreMania Africa is set to transform the landscape of youth development with the latest edition of its flagship project, the Generation Next Theatre (GNT) Initiative, a powerful campaign championing creative arts within Nigerian education.
This high-octane, two-day theatrical and educational experience will come alive on June 4th and 5th, 2026, at the prestigious Corona Secondary School (CSS), Agbara, Ogun State. The event promises a unique convergence of star-studded Nollywood actors, corporate leaders, the Black Image Theatre Troupe, and the school’s talented drama students.
Moving beyond traditional classroom boundaries, the GNT Initiative positions theatre and mentorship as core pillars of a well-rounded education. Through direct collaboration with industry veterans, the program empowers secondary school students to expand their creative horizons, boost emotional intelligence, unlock leadership potential, and sharpen the critical thinking skills required to thrive in today’s global economy.
The GNT Initiative will be featuring Dr. Sam Uche Anyamele fta. (Nollywood Actor)., Bukola Thomas(Nollywood Actress), Julius Oyekanmi(Tech Expert), Alayande Stephen T.(Prolific Producer), Paul Uwagbai (Veteran Director), Tomiwa Songonuga (Reality Show Celeb), Dr. Ochuko Odesa (Chartered Accountant), Drama Students, Corona Secondary School and Black Image Theatre Troupe.
Innocent Oaikhena
Principal, Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State, Innocent Oaikhena, said; “At Corona Schools, we are focused on and dedicated to producing well-rounded young men and women. We acknowledge that true academic excellence cannot exist in a vacuum; it must be supported by well structured extracurricular engagements that stimulate imagination and build strong character. Hosting the GNT Initiative and welcoming TheatreMania Africa alongside these distinguished personalities allows our students to experience an unparalleled level of theatrical immersion.
This program underscores the vital importance of holistic education, ensuring that as our students grow academically, their creative capabilities and mentalities are equally shaped to think innovatively, feel deeply, and lead collaboratively” he averred.
Day 1: The Master Circle (Mentorship Session)
The convergence kicks off on Thursday, June 4th, with the highly anticipated Master Circle Mentorship Session. This intensive interface provides a rare platform for CSS Agbara students to interact directly with experienced industry practitioners and busy corporate executives who maintain a lifelong commitment to the arts.
Moving beyond routine career talks, the session will dive deep into personal development, emotional resilience, the business of creativity, and the balancing act of artistic passion with structured professional excellence.
Day 2: The Stage Play Collaboration — ‘WHISPERS 4.0’
The climax of the initiative unfolds on Friday, June 5th, with a groundbreaking live performance of the acclaimed stage play, WHISPERS 4.0. Breaking down the conventional walls between professional and amateur theatre, this collaborative production will feature a cast comprising notable Nollywood stars, busy corporate executives stepping back onto the boards, Black Image Theatre Troupe and the remarkably talented drama students of CSS Agbara.
WHISPERS 4.0 itself serves as a poignant narrative mirror, addressing topical social realities and cultural themes designed to stir introspection and emphasize the therapeutic and educational power of storytelling.
Bukola Thomas
According to Bukola Thomas, renowned Nollywood Actor who will be part of the GNT Initiative, she said “Stepping into the space of mentorship and practical stage production with the Generation Next Theatre (GNT) Initiative is an absolute honor and a profound responsibility. Working with the brilliant young minds at CSS Agbara reminds us that the future of African storytelling depends entirely on the foundations we lay today. Theatre is not just an extracurricular activity; it is a laboratory for human empathy and cognitive expansion. Through our Mentorship Session and sharing the stage in WHISPERS 4.0, we are not merely training future actors, we are equipping the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and innovators with a sharpened creative mentality that will distinguish them in whatever path they choose” she proudly submitted.
This generational bridge offers an unprecedented experiential learning curve for the students.
Sharing a live stage with industry masters requires high-level discipline, active listening, and adaptive collaboration, offering a Masterclass in real-time execution that no traditional classroom layout can replicate.
According to Alayande Stephen T., CEO/Co-Founder, TheatreMania Africa “TheatreMania Africa’s consistent delivery of the GNT Initiative highlights an urgent advocacy message: the arts are not secondary ornaments to education, but primary pillars. It is a manifesto to sustained arts education in itself. In an increasingly automated world, unique human capacities like creativity, cultural literacy, and collaborative synergy represent the ultimate premium assets. The June 4th and 5th activation stands as an exemplary blueprint of how educational institutions and creative industries can systematically collaborate to nurture wholesome, holistic, all round, multi-faceted individuals’ he submitted.
The GNT Initiative is proudly supported by WAP TV, RAVE TV, NTA, NTA 2, R2TV, R2 107.1fm , Showbiz Afrika Magazine, Brand Times, The Nollywood Reporter, SPLASH9JA, Brand Visibility, MabyKay Productions, JYB TV, Moon TV, Eagles House Global Resources, Nkan Media, Black Image Theatre Troupe, Finnova Tech Ltd., EMCOAN, TheatreDome, Branama TV, Freshwaves Concept etc
About the organisers and partners
TheatreMania Africa is a premier creative organisation dedicated to the promotion, production, and preservation of African theatre, cultural heritage, and youth talent development across the continent. Through targeted interventions like the GNT Initiative, it continuously bridges the gaps between the industry, corporate sectors, and educational systems. www.theatremaniaafrica.org | [email protected]
Corona Secondary School Agbara Ogun State.
Corona Secondary School, Agbara, one of the many schools established by Corona Schools’ Trust Council, is a world-class institution renowned for its academic excellence, state-of-the-art facilities, and unwavering devotion to producing globally competitive, morally upright, and comprehensively educated individuals.
For more information, refer to the school’s website: www.coronaschools.org; [email protected]
