Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to reposition and support the nation’s creative industry with the necessary incentives, if elected into power in the 2023 general election.
The former vice president stated this at the weekend in Lagos during a roundtable discussion with stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative, cultural and innovative industry.
Some practitioners in the industry which include top entertainment entrepreneur, Ayo Animashaun; award-winning director, Kenneth Gyang; ace creative director, Papa Omotayo; Talent Manager and Music Executive, Efe Omorogbe, media entrepreneur, Agatha Amata among others had at the special round table discussion on Digitized Future between Nigeria creative, cultural , innovative industry and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lamented lack of support from the government.
According to them, there is no funding for the practitioners with requisite knowledge and content of creative Art, adding that the culture policy and film policy of Nigeria had been abandoned by successive governments in the country.
Responding, Atiku said the industry has what it takes to crash the unemployment rate and generate huge revenue for the country if necessary support is given.
Atiku said he will create an enabling environment for the players in the industry by providing proper funding model, training and capacity development, assuring that the funding would be liberalised and distributed through banks or agencies in order to make it easily accessible for players in the industry.
“This industry is a livewire for our economy. A sector that provides employment, especially for the youths, is not one to be toyed with. This sector can provide us huge revenue if well harnessed.
“The way forward is to increase funds for the arts and liberalise the process of acquiring that fund, if you give me the opportunity, I will do it because it is essential.
“I will reject direct CBN intervention and encourage the private sector to be part of this, the government cannot develop all the funds needed,” he said.
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