The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, presided over the Talanta Hela logo competition awards ceremony at the Kenya Cultural Center today. The ceremony was a culmination of a competition that sought to reward talented individuals in the creative industry with cash prizes. Job Ogweno emerged as the grand prize winner, taking home Ksh 300,000, while the first and second runners-up received Ksh 200,000 and Ksh 100,000, respectively.
In his speech, Ababu Namwamba commended the winners and applauded the selection process that identified the most talented individuals. He noted that the government is committed to monetizing talents and ensuring that creatives and sportspeople receive fair compensation for their efforts. He added that the Ministry is working to strengthen the Kenya Film School and the Kenya Film Commission to achieve this objective.
“We want to make sure that talents in sports and in creatives pay. We are strengthening the Kenya Film School and the Kenya Film Commission to ensure that our creatives are fairly rewarded,” he said.
Job Ogweno, the grand prize winner, expressed his gratitude to the government and the Ministry for recognizing his talent. He described winning the competition as a validation of hard work and dedication. He urged other young people to participate in similar initiatives as they provide a platform for showcasing their talents.
The awards ceremony is a significant milestone towards the Ministry’s objective of monetizing talents in various arts and sports, which aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by putting money directly into the pockets of young people. Hon. Ababu Namwamba urged more partnerships to join the government in promoting and monetizing talents. He announced that the Ministry has plans to search for the best talents in the country and reward them accordingly.
The Talanta Hela logo competition awards ceremony was a resounding success, highlighting the government’s commitment to empowering young people through talent monetization initiatives. It demonstrated that Kenya has immense talent that can be tapped and turned into a source of income. The government’s efforts in this regard are commendable and offer hope for a brighter future for the country’s youth.