The chief executive officer of Light Up Port Harcourt, Mr. Happy Agi, has said that the entertainment project was aimed at promoting talents and providing platforms to showcase those same.

Agi disclosed on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on plans for the second edition of the programme, scheduled to hold in September 2024.

He said: “Light Up Port Harcourt is an entertainment project aimed at showcasing Port Harcourt City and its talent potential.

“We have identified a gap in the music industry and we intend to close that gap, which is not about dearth of talents but about promoting the talents, and providing platforms to showcase those talents. That is the gap we want to close.

“This is a vision birthed on December 27, 2023, which is now a reality. It aims to sell Port Harcourt to the world by projecting Garden City talents to the world. It is not restricted to indigenes of Port Harcourt but all of Rivers State and all those who had stints in Port Harcourt at one time or the other.

“The first outing took place on March 9, 2024. This one coming up on September 15, 2024, is a special edition because it is going to be an all-Port Harcourt artistes show. We want to tell the world that we are here and that we have so many talents.”

Also speaking, the chief executive officer of Grafton Records, Tonye Ibiama, said the company has created platform that is helping to nurture talents in Port Harcourt.

Ibiama said: “We are trying to celebrate talents in Port Harcourt music zone. Our company has always picked up talents from Port Harcourt, and Nigeria has always harvested and enjoyed musicians from Port Harcourt over the decades.

“We have tried to create platforms for Port Harcourt artistes to show themselves to the world. The platform called ‘Climax Night’ produced Burna Boy that is now the King of Africa. The truth is, no platform, no talent.

“The drive is not only for national artistes but for upcoming ones. We expect the City to help nurture Port Harcourt artistes. We are here to let the world know this. I am particularly appealing for support.”