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As part of broad based efforts to diversify the economy, the Federal government has solicited partnership with the private sector in promoting creative arts to ensure job creation and economic empowerment for the people.
Already, the federal ministry of information and culture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding the British Council in Edinburgh, UK to “further explore ways that the potentials of our creative industries can be harnessed for economic empowerment.’’
Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture who disclosed this while declaring open the 29th edition of the national festival of arts and culture in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital said another MoU has been signed ‘’this week’’ with the Tony Elemulu Foundation to further boost the creative industry.
According to the minister, the vision of the Federal Government is to reorganise the programmes and activities in the culture and tourism sectors towards making them areas that will drive the present economic diversification efforts of the Federal Government towards job creation and economic empowerment.
Read also:https://businessday.ng/uncategorized/article/edo-assures-rich-display-of-innovative-cultural-products-at-2019-nafest/
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ayotunde Adesugba, the minister said turnaround efforts aimed at engaging relevant stakeholders through a national summit on culture and tourism have commenced adding that it is to work out strategies to develop to develop the culture and tourism sectors and move them into the mainstream of the economy.
“We are aware that culture creates wealth and builds a nation like no other resources. It is an inclusive sector that brings all strata of people together for economic growth and development.
‘NAFEST today has been repositioned not only to bring to focus the potential in growing domestic tourism and social integration, but also for national unity, peace and development. The major interests of this year’s NAFEST include arts and craft as well as exhibition which are geared towards developing and celebrating our indigenous art and craft.
“Having the privilege of being appointed as minister of information, culture and tourism, my vision has been to re-organized the programme and activities in the culture and tourism sectors towards making them preferred areas that will drive the present economic diversification efforts of government towards job creation and economic empowerment of our teeming youth women and the rural populace”, he said.
With the theme, “Exploring the Goldmine Inherent in Nigeria’s Creative Industries’, he hoped that, the ongoing reorganisation exercise in this sector would lead to the creation of jobs and economic empowerment of the teeming youths, women and rural populace.
He observed that, culture diversity which is globally shared is the greatest opportunity that every Nigerian should embrace for peace, unity and development.
The cultural festival is attended by eleven states including, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, FCT, Kebbi, Katsina, Lagos Ogun Taraba, Kano and the host Akwa Ibom.
Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, represented by his deputy, Moses Ekpo, thanked the national council of arts and culture for the choice of Akwa Ibom State as the host of the 29th edition of NAFEST 2016 saying that the state has distinguished itself in the creative arts after it has won the Golden Gong back to back for three years in recognition its contributions to the development of arts and culture in the country.
He called on interested investors in the culture and tourism sectors to partner with the state to harness the rich cultural heritage and potentials of the state.
