As the 2023 general elections draw near, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called on all Presidential aspirants of political parties to present workable plans and programmes on how to boost the creative sector for optimum contribution to national economy.
The AGN’s National President, Ejezie Emeka Rollas (MON), made the call on Monday when he led some members of the guild on a working visit to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.
According to him, the visit was part of political aspirants engagement by the guild, especially at the federal level, and it was in furtherance of the guild’s decision to offer all presidential aspirants equal opportunity to present their plans for the creative industry, if at all such is captured in their manifestos.
Rollas noted that the Nigeria’s motion picture industry, popularly known as Nollywood was a major contributor to the nation’s GDP, especially in job creation and youth empowerment, and therefore should be given a pride of place in the plans and grogrammes of any serious government.
“Although we are non-partisan as the umbrella body of all Nollywood actors, we understand also the need to hold leaders responsible, and that is why we want all the aspirants to present to us their plans for the industry.
“Your Excellency, on the 21 and 22 of November 2022 we had the Nollywood Actors Summit in Benin City, Edo State, where we invited all the presidential aspirant s to tell us about their plans for the creative industry which we believe is a critical sector in Nigeria.
“We however, understand because of your busy schedule you were unable to attend, and this meeting present the opportunity for us to draw your attention to the prospects and challenges of our film industry, and if you become the next president of Nigeria, you would know the way forward.
In his remark, Tinubu extolled the critical role of Nollywood in socio-economic development of the country and pledged massive support for the creative sector if elected president come 2023.
He noted the revamping of the national Theatre by the present Administration as part of committed effort by the APC government to ensure the sector is given adequate attention.
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