As part of moves to reposition the nation’s economy post the Coronavirus era, the Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday, performed the virtual inauguration of the Post-COVID-19 Initiatives Committee for the Creative Industry, calling on all members of the industry to support the committee in the interest of the industry.
While inaugurating the committee, Mohammed explained that the committee’s membership, as announced two weeks ago, had been expanded to include as many sectors as possible to ensure fair representation.
”However, while the committee cannot accommodate all members of the industry, it is certain that all members will benefit from its work. I, therefore, want to implore the entire industry to support this committee. This is no time for division. All hands must be on deck so the industry can rebound,” Mohammed said.
He described the industry as a “very critical sector of the nation’s economy”, a major “plank of the economic diversification policy of this administration” and the move as a
“government-supported approach in dealing with the immediate, short and long-term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector”.
He said further: “Considering the fact that it is an industry that has people-interaction at its core. I also said that instead of addressing these problems piecemeal, we should do so holistically for a more positive outcome”.
Mohammed commended members of the committee for their sacrifice and love of country and urged them to do justice to the assignment, which will culminate in suitable recommendations that will help the industry to thrive and expand.
In his response, the chairman of the committee Ali Baba, expressed the appreciation that the Creative Industry had finally gained its pride of place under this administration because of its huge contribution to the diversification of the nation’s economy.
The committee’s terms of reference covers assessing the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general, advising the government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as to create succour for the industry small businesses, suggest the type of taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time to encourage growth and advise the Government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.
Its members include; Ali Baba – Comedy, Film and TV (Chairman); Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim – Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (Vice Chairman); Bolanle Austen Peters – Film and Performing Arts, Charles Novia – Television and Independent Producer, Segun Arinze- Actor and Producer, Ali Jita – Actor and Musician, Baba Agba – Film Director, Kene Okwuosa – Cinema and Distribution, Efe Omoregbe – Record label and Collective rights management, Prince Daniel Aboki – Radio and Film, Chioma Ude – Streaming, Olumade Adesemowo – Television and Platform (FreeTV), Dare Art Alade – Livespot Entertainment, Oliver Enwonwu – President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA); Alhaji Saleh Rabo – President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria; Bala Hassan – Booksellers Association, Ali Nuhu – Kannywood, Tajudeen Owoyemi – Hotels, B.M. Dzukogi – Association of Nigerian Authors, TY Bello – Photography, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi – Fashion, Anita Eboigbe – Secretary, Segun Adeyemi
