FG Will Remove All Impediments To Growth of Creative Industry – Minister
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said
that the Federal Government will remove all impediments to the growth
of the Creative Industry, as part of the ongoing efforts to encourage
the growth of the sector.
The Minister gave the assurance in Lagos in the early hours of Sunday
at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
“As we head into 2020, the successful commercialization of the
Creative industry is our number 1 priority. It will create jobs,
reduce crime, be a major source of foreign exchange and thereby reduce
our dependence on oil, rebrand our country internationally and boost
our GDP.
“So, we in government are tackling all impediments to the industry
thriving. We are making cheaper and longer term financing available
for the industry, especially for infrastructural projects, like
concert halls across the six geo-political zones of the country, as
recently announced by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” he
said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the government is providing the necessary
framework through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation
to ensure that listeners of music pay for it.
In addition, he said internet data must be cheaper and owners of
content must make more money from the use of their works.
“The other big issue for commercialization is the digital economy –
data must be cheaper and owners of content must make more money from
the use of their works. I am sure you have been following the
announcements by my colleague, the Minister of Communications, on
this,” he said.
The Minister also said the government is cleaning up the advertising
industry and making sure proper measurement of content exist and are
collated, stressing that this measure has the potential to add at
least 50 billion Naira annually to the Creative Sector.
The Minister congratulated the organizers of AFRIMA for another
successful hosting of the prestigious awards and the role they have
been playing in the explosion, development and the success of African
music.
In his remarks, the Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada, said
the organization is using culture and art as a platform to change the
narratives of unemployment, extreme poverty and homelessness on the
continent.
He commended the Minister for providing the needed support, which
enabled them to successfully host this year’s AFRIMA
