The Federal Government has said the Creative Industry has taken the lead in the nation’s economy diversification and job creation.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known on Sunday evening in Lagos at the opening of the musical, “Fela and the Kalakuta Queens’’.
“I am totally encouraged that Nigeria is indeed on track with all the capabilities to diversify our economy in order to create jobs and boost our Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
“It is great to note that the creative sector is taking the lead to achieve this,’’ he said.
Mr Mohammed said that the vibrancy in the sector was largely due to the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors.
He congratulated Ms. Austen Peters, her management team and all the creative talent involved in the making of “Fela and the Kalakuta Queens’’.
“This production will no doubt take us to another level in our achievements and I want to assure you that this government is with the creative sector all the
way,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the minister has assured that the government would give continued support to the creative industry.
Speaking at the premiere of the movie, “Wedding Party 2’’ also in Lagos on Sunday, he said the increased attention being given to the sector by the Buhari administration had started yielding fruits.
The minister listed the pioneer status granted to the Industry, the stepped-up anti-piracy campaign and the decision to seek stimulus capital for the Industry from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as some of the positive results.
He recalled that shortly after the Creative Industry Financing Conference in Lagos earlier in the year, he led a delegation of the film industry stakeholders to the Inspector- General of Police, IGP.
According to him, the meeting with the IGP resulted in the formation of anti-piracy units in all the 36 states of
the federation
“The subsequent extensive piracy raids have now resulted in the confiscation of pirated films worth hundreds of millions of Naira.
“In fact, criminal prosecutions of culprits have now started,’’ he said.
The minister also recalled how, shortly after the conference, the Federal Government granted pioneer status to the Creative Industry.
He said the directive had helped to reduce financial burdens on new investments and encourage both foreign and local investments into the film industry.
The minister congratulated Ms. Mo Abudu and all those involved in the production of “Wedding Party 2’’.
He said with the blockbusters being churned out by Nigerian film producers, “we can formally announce to the world that a true film industry has arrived in our Nollywood’’.
NAN
