The Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,as announced plans to set up the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and also the Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPPICON).
Speaking during the 2016 Kannywood Awards in Abuja he said when established, the NEA would ensure sustainable funding for all the genre of the arts.
The event which was organised to commemorate 25 years of the Hausa film industry, was also used to recognise various stars in the industry for the 2015 performances.
“We are forwarding a copy of the draft bill on the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts to the Ministry of Justice. My plan is to fast-track the realization of the NEA in order to guarantee sustainable development of the creative sector,” he said, adding the establishment of the NEA would tackle the challenge of funding for the creative arts sector.
On MOPPICON, which will regulate, administer and control the motion picture practice in Nigeria, he said he would soon set up a ministerial committee on the MOPPICON Bill with a view to fast-tracking its passage into law and paving the way for the establishment of the council.
The minister promised to work with the stakeholders in the movie industry to tackle the challenges bedevilling the sector, including piracy, distribution, funding, and the re-organization of the regulatory agencies.
He described piracy as a “monstrous disincentive” to the movie industry and indeed the entire arts and entertainment industry, suggesting that a longer jail term with no option of fine for convicted offenders and the establishment of a dedicated national task force on piracy could help curb the scourge.
“I am told that a recent study revealed that there are 8 pirated works to two original works out of every ten works you find in the market. This is totally unacceptable! This administration is determined to fight this scourge, and indeed we have started fighting it.
“Between the times we held the roundtable in Lagos and today, three alleged pirates have been arrested by the police. There is no better evidence of our commitment to fighting piracy than this. I want to use this opportunity to commend the police and the NCC for this breakthrough,” Mohammed said.
He commended the organisers of the Kannywood Awards, which started in 2013, for “keeping the flag flying”.
