Entertainers Hold Talks With Lai Mohammed On Growth Of Creative Industry

Entertainers and stakeholders on Monday, met with top government officials to proffer solution to some industry challenges.

Among those in attendance was TV personality, Mo Abudu, who believes that the interface with the government would create a more effective and impactful industry.

The meeting was aimed at formalising the public-private partnership in the sector and the consensus for both parties was that the creative industry should not be treated as a side story but the main one.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker noted that the entertainment industry is currently the nation’s major sectors, hence much importance should be placed on it.

“Presently this industry represents our largest asset, it is our duty in the public sector to advocate for more resources for the sector and encourage a deeper understanding from the government of the immense possibilities that can come from considered national strategy.

“At the national level, we are capitalising on our experience to reach out to a wider market in promoting the best of Nigeria,” he said

On behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Information Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed embraced the findings and reached to raise the commitment of the public sector.

“I have called this round table for one reason only, which is to fast track our main objective of transforming the creative industry to a creative economy. That is the objective against the background of this administration’s intention and supporting and facilitating an enabling environment for the true business growth of the creative sector.

“This administration has no doubt that the plan to transform the creative industry must be driven by a private sector. After all, it is self-evident that the modest growth that has been achieved in this sector so far, whether, in films, music or fashion has been achieved in spite of the government.

“It, therefore, stands to reason that when the government provides the necessarily enable environment and the private sector in the driver’s seat transformation can be realised within a short time,” he stated.