15th October, 2021
By Jethro Ibileke
Governor Godwin Obaseki has named the newly-built Edo Creative Hub after late music icon, Sir Victor Uwaifo.
The Governor announced this on Friday evening in his tribute at the lying-in-state for late Uwaifo, held at the Ogbe Hard Court of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin, the State capital.
He described the death of the music maestro as the end of an era, adding that the government and the people of Edo mourn the death of a living legend.
He said: “For us, the passing of Sir Victor Uwaifo marks the end of an era that produced some of the prolific artistes from Edo. It was a generation with creative minds, such as the late Erhabor Emopkai, Dr. Victor Eghareva and Sir Victor Uwaifo. Uwaifo’s passing marks the end of that era.
“As a mark of honour to the late Guitar Boy, the Edo State Government has decided that our newly built creative hub will be named after Uwaifo. This creative hub which is going to be commissioned by the second week of November 2021, has a multi-million-dollar studio to support artistes.”
Obaseki noted that the hub will “promote creativity in Edo. It has editing suites. It will incubate state-based groups and artistes. It will be used for live shows. It has studios for Nollywood to rent for their productions.
“There will be spaces for artistes in the performing arts. That is the least we can do for a man who changed the face of music in Nigeria; that is the least we can do for the man who composed the song, Joromi. That was the first song from Africa and Nigeria to win a golden disc as at the time it did.”
“We will always remember Sir Victor Uwaifo for what he meant and what he represented. He represented Edo values which include hard work, creativity and innovation. It is going to be very difficult for us to imagine our entertainment scene and music space without Sir Victor Uwaifo. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” he added.
Dignitaries at the event include Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun and the Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha.