The Federal Government is to amend the Act establishing the
National Endowment for the Arts, to better meet the demands of the
creative industry sector.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
disclosed this on Wednesday during a virtual forum of the AU
Ministers of Arts, Culture and Heritage on the effects of the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the creative sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the virtual forum
organised by the AU Commission for Social Affairs was chaired by
Mohammed.
Addressing the forum, the minister said that the objectives of
the Endowment is to support every medium and area of creative
activity in the art, culture and heritage sector as well as foster
professional excellence in the sector.
He said the government would work with the National Assembly for
early ammendment of the Act to mitigate the effects of the pandemic
on the sector.
Mohammed noted that Covid-19 pandemic had negatively impacted on
the world and every area of human endeavour wth the Art, Culture
and Heritage sector being the worst hit.
He explained that the sector was worst hit because the entire
industry is audience-centred.
Specifically,the minister said that social distancing, ban on
mass gathering and travel restrictions put in place globally, made
the industry to be worst hit.
He said in Nigeria, the impact had been particularly
devastating, because of the importance and the relevance of the
sector to the national economy.
“The Nigeria Creative Industry is large, diverse, dynamic and
critical for economic growth, development and diversification.
“It is the biggest job creator after agriculture, with
particularly great opportunities for women and the youth.
“The Industry also contributes between 2.5 and three per cent to
the nation’s GDP,” he said.
In facing the challenges, Mohammed said the government set up a
22-member stakeholders committee to come up with immediate, short
and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the
industry.
He said in the wake of the pandemic, the Central Bank of Nigeria
also set aside 50 billion Naira for small holder businesses and the
Creative Industry.
“I have no doubt that the measures we are putting in place will
yield positive results in sustaining the Creative Industry in
Nigeria in the days to come,” he said.
Mohammed underscored the need for the African ministers to give
the industry a shot in the arm during and after the pandemic.
He said the forum afforded the opportunity to provide an
all-inclusive inter-disciplinary bond that places premium on
culture as a sine qua non for all developmental initiatives in
Africa.
Earlier, the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mrs Amira
Elfadil welcomed the ministers and other participants to the forum
and underscored the need for collaborative efforts in fighting the
common enemy, Covid-19.
She conveyed the greetings of the President of the AU and South
Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa to the forum.
NAN reports that the Director of Africa Centre for Disease
Control, John Nkengasong and the President and Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Dr. Benedict Oramah made presentations to the forum.
NAN also reports that no fewer than 20 Ministers from different
African countries made contributions at the virtual forum.
The countries included, Algeria, Gambia, Cameroon, South Africa,
Mali, Tunisia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.
Others are Uganda, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger,
Zambia, Togo, Djibouti and. Saharawi Republic. (NAN)
The Federal Government is to amend the Act establishing the
National Endowment for the Arts, to better meet the demands of the
creative industry sector.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
disclosed this on Wednesday during a virtual forum of the AU
Ministers of Arts, Culture and Heritage on the effects of the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the creative sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the virtual forum
organised by the AU Commission for Social Affairs was chaired by
Mohammed.
Addressing the forum, the minister said that the objectives of
the Endowment is to support every medium and area of creative
activity in the art, culture and heritage sector as well as foster
professional excellence in the sector.
He said the government would work with the National Assembly for
early ammendment of the Act to mitigate the effects of the pandemic
on the sector.
Mohammed noted that Covid-19 pandemic had negatively impacted on
the world and every area of human endeavour wth the Art, Culture
and Heritage sector being the worst hit.
He explained that the sector was worst hit because the entire
industry is audience-centred.
Specifically,the minister said that social distancing, ban on
mass gathering and travel restrictions put in place globally, made
the industry to be worst hit.
He said in Nigeria, the impact had been particularly
devastating, because of the importance and the relevance of the
sector to the national economy.
“The Nigeria Creative Industry is large, diverse, dynamic and
critical for economic growth, development and diversification.
“It is the biggest job creator after agriculture, with
particularly great opportunities for women and the youth.
“The Industry also contributes between 2.5 and three per cent to
the nation’s GDP,” he said.
In facing the challenges, Mohammed said the government set up a
22-member stakeholders committee to come up with immediate, short
and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the
industry.
He said in the wake of the pandemic, the Central Bank of Nigeria
also set aside 50 billion Naira for small holder businesses and the
Creative Industry.
“I have no doubt that the measures we are putting in place will
yield positive results in sustaining the Creative Industry in
Nigeria in the days to come,” he said.
Mohammed underscored the need for the African ministers to give
the industry a shot in the arm during and after the pandemic.
He said the forum afforded the opportunity to provide an
all-inclusive inter-disciplinary bond that places premium on
culture as a sine qua non for all developmental initiatives in
Africa.
Earlier, the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mrs Amira
Elfadil welcomed the ministers and other participants to the forum
and underscored the need for collaborative efforts in fighting the
common enemy, Covid-19.
She conveyed the greetings of the President of the AU and South
Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa to the forum.
NAN reports that the Director of Africa Centre for Disease
Control, John Nkengasong and the President and Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Dr. Benedict Oramah made presentations to the forum.
NAN also reports that no fewer than 20 Ministers from different
African countries made contributions at the virtual forum.
The countries included, Algeria, Gambia, Cameroon, South Africa,
Mali, Tunisia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.
Others are Uganda, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger,
Zambia, Togo, Djibouti and. Saharawi Republic. (NAN)