BE INTENTIONAL, AND THEN PROVE YOUR SKILL

 

The caption of this piece “Be intentional, and then prove your skill” aptly captures the expectations, indeed mandate of the African Film Institute (AFI), of her trainees in the on-going skills acquisition training programme on film making and creative production, holding in Jos, Plateau state. 

Recent activities of the African Film Institute in its Agenda Setting, turnaround, Career building and life transforming training programme in Jos, designed to further prove that Plateau state is the home of film making and the headquarters of creative skills is now at the stage where the trainees are proving their skills in film making and creative production, and the revelations are massive, eye popping and reassuring.

Terry Jerry Awase, the lead, African Film Institute, in Jos, while watching part of, as a matter of fact, a small fraction of the over 400 trainees of the AFI implemented and federal government of Nigeria and World Bank Funded programme: the largest in the country, perform their duty of showcasing what they have learnt from the different sessions of the skill acquisition trainings attended by them, was moved to frenzy, aware that his efforts in Jos are producing the intended results. 

Expressing emotionally, his joy and happiness over what he observed at the on-going “Prove your skill session” of the programme, Terry Jerry Awase, noted “honestly, the trainees are doing well. They embraced the training with commitment, courage and determination to excel. This is very obvious from what I have seen so far. Beyond the need for the skill acquisition, the trainees have demonstrated that the programme is special to them, the state and the nation. To most of them that I have consistently and openly interacted with, the programme is a very unique one. It provides this set of trainees with the opportunity to open up the plateau state economy and create a shift, necessary for repositioning the state for massive Job creation, and wealth generation activities that will force the ailing economy to vomit the millions of jobs it has swallowed for years.

The skill acquisition training programme is organised by the African Film Institute in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank. Activities of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank in the programme are as piloted by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), and the Innovative Development for Effectiveness in Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS), respectively.

As reported by Scoreline in its previous publications of the 6 months skills acquisition training, now in the 4th month, the programme has passed through different stages, starting with the theoretical classroom sessions, the first phase. At the second phase of the training, the trainees were exposed to a life production film set, where they participated actively for two weeks in the making of a feature length film. 

After the two weeks outing, it was time for the AFI facilitators to strengthen lessons obtained practically from the field experience of the film making set. This session was skilfully and systematically conducted by the facilitators. They took their time and at the end ensured that they were able to knock in, and screw into place the lessons of the exercise to ensure they seat properly within the internal domain of the trainees. 

The trainees are now at the stage where they are required to prove their skills in Film Making and Creative Media Production, under the supervision of the hardworking, meticulous and result oriented, impact driven and passionate team members of the African film institute facilitating the programme. 

The outcome so far of “Prove your skill” Phase of the training programme has been tremendous. It promises to reveal more encouraging results, as more trainees step out in the coming weeks to exhibit their skills in the different areas they have been receiving practical skills training with regard to film making and creative media productions.

Before signing off, let me draw your attention, dear esteemed reader to the issue of being intentional, and a part of the topic of this piece. Please take note...

To “Be intentional” is to be deliberate, to do, act or perform with objective, purpose, determination and resolve. It entails being clear about whatever it is that you want to do, and what you want to achieve. 

To “Be intentional” is to identify a course to pursue, a line of action, goal or agenda, and to understand what the set goal demands, and convincing yourself that it is what you want to do and where you want to arrive at, and deciding (taking the decision) to do it, and indeed doing it, taking action and working consistently on the path that see you achieve your set goal. 

To “Be intentional” therefore, requires that you are clear and remain clear, active, focused and committed to your goal. As a matter of fact, to “Be intentional” is to be able to gather, deploy and direct effectively, all available, but necessary resources to achieving your set goal. 

To “Be intentional” requires you to be sure, not confused about your set goal. In this case, your goal must be measurable, that is assessable in the true sense of the word. Your goal is also expected to be ambitious enough to draw or pull you consistently in the path and direction of the goal. This is not possible if the goal is not realistic and a definite period to attain or achieve the goal is not in sight. Thus, your goal must by all intent and purposes be time bound. This is being intentional.

Nnabugwu Chizoba