Popular comedian and skit maker, Lawrence Osarenkhoe, widely known as Official Mc Casino, has been inducted into the prestigious Kings and Kingdom Africa Hall of Fame as an Ambassador of Cultural Ethics, values, and morals, ahead of his working visit to Europe.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Global Impact Initiative, Ameh David Noah, conferred the award on him at the G Armani Concept House over the weekend in Benin City, Edo State Capital.
The stand-up comedian was recognized for his hilarious skits and sustainable vision. His loyalty and commitment to reducing sad moments and anxiety have earned him a place in the wings of honour among his contemporaries in the entertainment industry.
Flattered by his soaring success, Osarenkhoe, an alumnus of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), renowned for his rib-cracking humor, has become the 13th distinguished personality to join the ranks of other inductees, including the National Secretary/Focal Person of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Prince Abdulkareem Onyekehi, and the Provost of the College of Agriculture at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Defending the choice of the latest entrant into the Kings and Kingdom Africa Hall of Fame, whose vision and mission aim at promoting inclusiveness in good governance, peace, education, and conflict resolution, Founder and CEO of Alfa Global Impact Initiative, Comrade Ameh David Noah, stated that Official Mc Casino was recognized after a painstaking research process as “one of the few comedians who have put in great effort in their campaign against immoral acts and social vices in society, particularly cultism and human trafficking through their craft towards a better society.”
In response, Osarenkhoe Lawrence, sporting a new powerful moustache, described the award as a source of encouragement, especially after losing significant opportunities for promoting good moral values through his comedy shows compared to those who promote immoral acts as an On-Air Personality (OAP) or social media celebrity.
He urged the youth not to give up on their talents, skills, and gifts, and to focus on improving their endeavors. According to him, “There are times we produce video comedy skits that preach good morals, speak against bad governance, and discourage prostitution, which sometimes costs as much as N200,000.00. You won’t get many views and shares on social media. But if you produce another video featuring a pretty girl with attractive breasts showing her cleavage, even if I don’t say much, I could get 10 million views or 55 billion shares.”
He lamented, “The most painful part is that some people you look up to as role models in society enjoy watching such content. If you are not a person of conviction in this business, preaching good morals becomes a difficult task to sustain because immorality and entertainment are first cousins.”
Decked out in his iconic pair of sunglasses and full of enthusiasm, Official Mc Casino rose to accept the coveted honour, stating, “Sincerely, some of us who are not overly conscious of money have decided to do the right thing by directing our creative prowess down this lonely path, but you have to watch your back against the very people you are defending or fighting for.”