Mayor of Housing (middle) flanked by Hon Enitoun Ezekiel Iyala (l) and Rev/Dr Joseph Joseph (r) with a plaque as a  Patron and an honorary membership of the Choir

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt 

The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who remarked at the weekend said Nigeria has the best of the best in talent, art, music, and culture. “What is wrong is that we have been carried away by politics and earning a living that we tend to neglect these things.”

He said neglect leads to death and whatever one neglects dies. “So, my message to Nigerians is, don’t neglect the rich heritage of where we come from; especially our skills and talents. You will be surprised how much more that would get us to our destination than politics and the like.”

The Mayor of Housing was installed as the first-ever Patron of the Rivers State Government House Choir, said at the installation ceremony that the choral assets of the state may be the best light out of the state.

The CEO of the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited said he is prepared to support efforts in packaging the choral assets of the state for a global audience.

Reacting after the presentation of his induction plaque, the Mayor of Housing, who was accompanied by his wife, Chidinma China, said he saw it as a huge privilege. He said the onus and responsibility of taking the best part and the best light from Rivers State to the rest of the world is an honour to him.”

Govt House Port Harcourt Ensemble.

The real estate success strategist said that to be chosen by God to receive the honour of being conferred a patron of Rivers State Government House Choir is still so humbling.

“And, it is a privilege I find very rare. It is rather like a spiritual conferment on me than a choral role from this or any other choral group for that matter. I feel like a man called into ecclesiastical mission.”

He said the responsibility would spur him to not only make sure they get all the resources and personnel they needed to be world-class but to ensure that they were seen and treated as world-class”.

This, he stated, is because we live in a 21st-century reality that nobody sees or values you if you are not known. “It is my onus to make sure that this beautiful choir in this Government House in this beautiful entity called Rivers State is known all over the world as the best of what Rivers State has to export.”

The Music Director, Hon Enitoun Ezekiel Iyalla (JP), former Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Council, now Rivers State Choir Music Administrator and Founder of Royal Male Choir, said the umbrella body of the Government House Choir is the Riv-Harmonious Mission Ensemble.

He further stated that the Choir moves out when representing the State Government or on an exclusive Government Programme. It could also be in very selective outings in stand-up performances or concerts.

He went on: “However, for exclusively private performances, they go by their umbrella name – Riv-Harmonious Mission Ensemble.”

Agreeing that the group can go places, the musical director said: “The Rivers group is made up of professionals in terms of singing and occupation. They have graduates in diverse fields as well as career professionals.

“Some of them have more than 30 years of singing and instrumental careers. That is said to be only possible with commitment, dedication, passion and basically, service to God.”

Some of the members explained the carefulness exercised in picking the Mayor of Housing as the first Patron of the Ensemble.

Explaining the painstaking process, one of the choristers, Kate Ogan, who is also a media personality, said nobody enters into the Ensemble without a serious background check.

Ogan said: “We saw a lot of qualities in My-ACE China including his exploits promoting human capacity development in Rivers State. When we identified these qualities in him, we resolved after investigations to bring him closer.

“No one person can do everything for a society or a state, so we need others to help to develop people. Let people take a cue from My-ACE China in seeking ways to develop the society.”

She told newsmen that some people were usually scared of business people but that the Government House Choir were comfortable with him. “We couldn’t have just brought him or anybody in without background checks or investigations. Each of us was also screened before we were accepted. We also pray before we touch anyone. We prayed and we got the leading to go ahead.”

Another member, Mr Asueiza Ezekiel Iyalla, who sings in the alto segment, said they in the Mayor of Housing, they saw somebody full of respect for God. “We see someone that can bring value to this choir. We only had a very short meeting and he said things that would amaze us about things that can bring value to this project and this state. Working with him, we will go higher and higher.

“We appeal to other Nigerians to come and see the roles they can play to lift the talents of Rivers people. We have the best organist in Nigeria, now in Germany. If people come in, they can see exportable talents.”

In his opinion, Mr Mike Julius, bass singer, said the Mayor of Housing, despite being in real estate, finds time for God. “He takes out time to commune with his Maker. He is also a singer. So, we bring him closer to see the talents we have in this state. Today, he has joined the choir of the Government House and he came to see what he can do to lift it higher.”

Talent base:

Many say the biggest asset in Rivers State may not be in oil/gas but in the reservoir of talents that abound, plus human capital development.

That could be why whenever a governor who values human capital steps into office, the state seems to vibrate: scholarships to study anywhere, training schemes, ICT schemes, industrial attachments, SME loans, etc.

The next big asset for the state is said to be agriculture which goes from crop yields (especially cassava and palm oil) and aquatic resources.

In talents, the dances and drama of the state have produced world beaters but it can do much more if the state’s leaders are intentional about it.

Many would easily talk about the Mercy Johnsons of this world, Hilda Dokubo, Yibo Koko, Julius Agwu, Duncan Mighty, Sam Dede the Isakaba man, and of late, Burna Boy. But many may never know that a big voice asset is an ensemble in the womb of power, the Brick House, which is the Government House of Rivers State. Yes, the same place that oozes power, crisis, and threat.

The name of the Chapel is called the Chapel of Everlasting Grace.

On the installation evening, the Music Director, Mr Enitoun Ezekiel Iyalla, after the opening prayers and directions of the reverend who is the Chaplain, Dr Joseph Joseph, took the Choir on a windy lane of many classics.

The night was highlighted by a soprano solo by a man who does not see physically (vision impaired), but who is being compared with the greatest Sopranos in the world, Cameroon Ayebatari.

The highlight of the songs was ‘Peace, Be Still” which was dedicated to the affairs of Rivers State where peace and still waters are known to be most needed.

Then, the conferment of Patron and honorary membership to the Mayor of Housing. Those who knew the Mayor of Housing talked about versatility, academic brilliance (best-graduating student in both secondary schools in Jos with 9 As and in the UNN), generosity, and above all, his fire-burning spiritual life.

The partnership resolved with determination to promote the choir beyond being an ensemble in an enclosure. The coming of the Mayor of Housing may ensure a global audience for the Choir.