FIIRO auditions for reality TV show

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has teamed up with Lashone Links Communications to develop a reality TV show to air later this year.

Described by the producers as Africa’s first industrial reality TV show, the show is titled FIIRO House and will kickstart with an unveiling ceremony on October 26.

Auditions have already begun to choose the 37 participants who will eventually make their way into the FIIRO House to take part in the show.

Auditions are ongoing in Lagos while those for other states will take place next month, in Abuja, Kano and Anambra. To register for an audition, click here.

The aim of the reality TV show is to nurture the entrepreneurial skills of young people in the country. The first, second and third winners will be awarded N25m (US$69,000), N15m and N10m, respectively.

Professor Gloria Elemo, director general of FIIRO, said: “It will promote indigenous technologies and local content among industrial practitioners, entrepreneurs and manufacturers, as well provide quality sales programming both online and on television.

“The programme will connect and promote the interests of the Nigerian youthful population, especially the unemployed youth and prospective entrepreneurs in indigenous technologies solutions for manufacturing and production.

“It will also engage and reward participants as they go through different levels of tasks to enhance and nurture them to world-class solutions providers.”

According to Dr Lanre Shonekan, CEO at the Lashone Links Group: “We have been on this journey for over two years now and the whole idea is to industrialise the country through indigenous technology and also get the youth off the streets.

“The youth who will be trained at the FIIRO House will be exposed to the research and development that has been created by FIIRO and use them to conceptualise ideas to become industrialists.

“This will enable them to raise their own industries and be able to employ more people and reduce unemployment in the country and this is the idea behind this project.”

Although no TV broadcasters were announced for the show yet, it will take place in all geo-political zones of the country and participants will serve as FIIRO ambassadors in all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

tagged in: Dr Lanre Shonekan, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, FIIRO, Gloria Elemo, Lashone Links Group