Atunyota Akpobome popularly known as Alibaba, a celebrated comedian, says Burna Boy, the Afrofusion artiste, has “done more for national awareness than any of the country’s ambassadors”.

Alibaba spoke about the impact of the entertainment industry on Nigeria’s economy in a recent interview on Channels TV‘s Saturday breakfast show, Sunrise.

The 58-year-old lamented that the government did not see prospects in the creative industry years ago.

He, however, added that the creative industry’s value has “skyrocketed” and has become one of the major contributors to the nation’s economy.

“Two years ago, a forecast of the economy of Nigeria in the next five years was looked into by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. Entertainment and the creative industry were not considered. Not one page. In looking forward to Nigeria for the next five years, a booklet of about 200 pages, the creative industry was not there,” he said.

“The value of the creative industry right now? Beyond. For instance, you have a single artiste going to London at the 02 Arena, closing it down and earning close a million, two million pounds, and coming back to Nigeria with that kind of money, even if they took 50% of it… Burna Boy has done a lot more for Nigerian national awareness than any ambassador that has been posted to America, posted to the UK, or posted to any other place.

“So these artistes that are performing are bringing national awareness and making other countries to even know about us than any ambassador would have done.”