Creative Industry

FG To Amend Act Establishing National Endowment For The Arts

Published

5 years ago

May 27, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government will amend the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts to enable it to play a pivotal role inresponding to the demands of the sector, which has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, in his opening remarks at the Virtual Forum of the African Union Ministers responsible for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

‘We have decided to amend the Act establishing the National Endowment for the Arts so it can better meet the demands of the sector, which has been greatly impacted by the pandemic.

”The main objectives of the Endowment is to support every medium and area of creative activity in the art, culture and heritage sector as well as to foster professional excellence in the sector,” said

AlhajiMohammed, who doubles as the 2nd Vice Chairperson of the African Union’s 3rd Specialized Technical Committee on Youth Culture and Sport.
He noted that the Creative Industry remains the worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic because it is audience-centred and, with the social distancing, ban on mass gathering and travel restrictions put in place globally, the fortunes of the industry has taken a nose dive.

“This is why we have decided to face the challenges squarely. Realizing the imperative of having a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the situation, we haveset up a 22-member stakeholders committee, cutting across art, culture, heritage, tourism, streaming, music, film, etc., to come up with immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiativesfor the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector,” the Minister said.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also set aside 50 billion Naira for small holder businesses and the Creative Industry to support the industry in the post Covid-19 era.

“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. I also look forward to sharing in the experiences fromother member-nations of the African Union in tackling the challenges occasioned by the pandemic,” the Minister said.

The virtual meeting, which was chaired by Alhaji Mohammed, was joined by about 20 Ministers of Arts, Culture and Heritage in Africa, who made presentations.

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Celebrity

Minister of Arts and Culture Pays Tribute to Late Highlife Icon Mike Ejeagha

Published

12 hours ago

June 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy mourns the passing of Nigeria’s highlife legend, Mike Ejeagha, who departed this life on Friday, June 6, 2025, at the age of 95.

The Minister extends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Mike Ejeagha, in a statement issued on Saturday through her Senior Assistant on Media and Publicity Nneka Ikem Anibeze praying that his soul rests in peace.

Musawa describes the late icon as a legend whose contributions to Nigeria’s culture through music and folklore cannot be set aside.

“The nation has lost a treasure trove of cultural heritage and musical genius. Mike Ejeagha’s contributions to Nigerian music are immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

“Mike Ejeagha’s impact on Igbo culture and music is undeniable. His extensive discography, comprising over 300 recordings archived in the National Archives of Nigeria, is a testament to his dedication to preserving and promoting our rich cultural heritage.

“As we mourn the passing of this musical icon, we celebrate his life and legacy. May his music continue to inspire and educate future generations of Nigerians,” the Minister said.

Ejeagha’s distinctive style of Igbo folk music, which resonated across multiple generations, has earned him a revered place in Nigeria’s cultural history. His mastery of transforming Igbo folklore and proverbs into captivating musical narratives educated and entertained audiences, cementing his status as a custodian of oral tradition.

The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy calls on Nigerians to join in paying tribute to this legendary musician and folklorist, honoring his memory by continuing to promote and preserve our cultural heritage.

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