FG Working To Remove All Impediments To Growth of Creative Industry – Lai Mohammed
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that as part of the ongoing efforts to encourage the growth of the sector, the Federal Government will remove all impediments to the growth of the Creative Industry,.
Mohammed, who stated this in Lagos on Sunday at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), said the government is tackling all impediments to enable the industry thrive.
He said; “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.
“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.”
Mohammed further said that 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.
The Minister said that in addition, internet data must be made cheaper just as owners of content must make more money from the use of their works.
According to him; “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.”
Mohammed 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.
He commended 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.
Earlier 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
