Beeta Universal Arts Foundation partners Union Bank, Shell Petroleum on

The Beeta Universal Arts Foundation ( BUAF), led by Bikiya Graham- Douglas, actress and producer, is proud to announce the fourth edition of the Beeta Playwright Competition. The competition has birthed plays such as Our Son the Minister by Paul Ugbede, Jagagba by Abdul QudusIbrahim and Daughters the East of by Achalugo Chioma Ezekobe, while the playwrights have gone on to experience enormous success.

Since inception the competition has received over 1,000 entries and received participation from 30 states in Nigeria and from the diaspora community including countries like USA, UK, Japan, Canada, Ghana, Italy, and Germany. The plays have all been produced by BUAF in different states across Nigeria and participated as part of a university campus outreach.

The competition aims at finding new voices in the literary genre of drama in the Nigerian literature. This year’s edition holds on the theme ‘ Through the ashes we rise – Stories of hope and resilience in a New Nigeria’.

However, BUAF is calling for entries and is open to indigenous playwrights between the ages of 1840. The deadline for all entries is December 28, 2020.

Top ten finalists will be treated to a writing camp, with a winner emerging at the grand finale event. The winner stands to win prizes worth up to N1 million, a publishing deal with Paper Worth Books, their play produced by BUAF and will be part of the nationwide university campus outreach.

An esteemed panel of Judges for the competition include; Ahmed Yerima, professor of the Arts and award- winning playwright, as the chairman, Shaibu Husseini, culture/ film journalist and arts administrator , Ego Boyo, veteran actress and producer, Ayo Jaiyesimi, theatre producer and writer director and actor, Kenneth Uphopho and Ibiso Graham- Douglas, publisher/ bookseller.

For this fourth edition, BUAF is partnering once again with Union Bank as high- ranking representatives of the bank not only recognize how invaluable the arts is to preserving and showcasing culture and history but are also committed to developing talent in Nigeria and Shell Petroleum Development Company who remain committed to enriching lives in operating communities.

The competition is also supported by Paperworth Books Limited, Olajide& Oyewole LLP along with media support from Guardian Nigeria, Ynaija. com, Syncity and Bagus NG.

Entries should be submitted to https:// beetauniversal. org/ competitions.