Creative Industry

Support for Creative Industry, Best Way To Solve Youth Unemployment – Minister

Published

3 years ago

June 21, 2022

Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohamed, has stressed the need for governments in Africa to invest in the Creative Industry as a way of solving youth unemployment and boosting the creative talent of youths.

The Minister, who made the remarks while briefing journalists on the just-concluded Annual General Meeting of the Afreximbank in Cairo,Egypt, where the Creative Industry featured prominently, said such support should be in form of providing grants for the sector and building Creative Industry infrastructure such as event places,cinemas, internet connectivity and cheap data.

According to him, what we find lacking in the Creative Industry really is thatgovernments across the continent need to do more than what we aredoing now.

They need to create infrastructure we are not just talking about roads or bridges or airports but Creative Industry Infrastructure, both hardware and software.

”We have the population, we have the talents, we need infrastructure,we need government grants,” said Alhaji Mohammed, who was a panellists at a session of the Afreximbank AGM that was dedicated to the Creative Industry.

He said with a high population of youths, most of whom are unemployed,the Creative Industry holds great potential for Africa because it’s a limitless and renewable resource capable of creating wealth and employment.

The Minister said the continental bank has floated a $500 million Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Fund designed to boost African Creative Industry and the Media, including digital innovators and experts,fashion, film and music.

He said for the Creative Industry to thrive, governments on the continent should explore avenues for long term grants, capacity building and provision of infrastructure, adding: ”You cannot grow the Creative Industry with debt.”
Alhaji Mohammed also said all the available instruments at the moment cannot grow the Creative Industry, and that what is needed is ‘patient money’.

”What we need is for venture capital firms to invest more in the Creative Industry. This is because out of the $1 billion venture capital investment in Nigeria in 2021, just 1 per cent went to the Creative industry,” he said.

The Minister said with a population of about 52 million young people (between the ages of 18 and 35), who are hugely talented, and the digital revolution which provides internet access for about 104million people and also with about 33 million Social Media users,Nigeria’s Creative Industry is like a gold mine and, when properly harnessed, would serve as the country’s new oil.

He expressed delight that Nigeria is far ahead of some of its peers on the continent in appreciating the potential of the Creative Industry and making policies towards enhancing the contribution of the sector to economic growth.

“I am proud to say that when we were in Cairo, I was able to thump my chest and say that Nigeria is doing the right thing. One example I cited is the collaboration between the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria/Bankers’ Committee that will bring a brand new National Theatre, which will also have four hubs for music, ICT, fashion and film.

“We are actually creating a creative and entertainment centre, which is going to employ many people and stop capital flight because you can now do the post-production for your film and music right here in Nigeria,” the Minister said.

Alhaji Mohammed, who also mentioned the floating of the $50 million Creative Industry Financial Initiative by the Central Bank, promised to engage the apex bank to ensure that the fund is accessible to the Creative Industry players.

He also harped on the need to improve on the collation, analysis and interpretation of data on the contribution of the Creative Sector to the GDP so that policy makers, development partners and other experts can make a case for favourable policies and funding for the industry.

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Creative Industry

Stephanie Linus, Juliet Ibrahim 8 others Appointed Jury Members For Zuma International Film Festival

Published

3 months ago

November 13, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Ten-member 10 jury of reputable Nigerian and foreign filmmakers to adjudicate on all entries in the competitive category of the Zuma international film festival, 2024, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital from December 1st to 5th, which is jointly being organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been announced.

Announcing the constitution of the ten-member jury through a statement issued in Abuja (on Monday, November, 11, 2024); Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, said “the jury is most critical to the selection of winning entries and composition of the jury reflects the premium and niche of ZUMA International Film Festival, as one of the continents fastest growing international film festivals and market events”.

He said, this explains why membership of the jury includes both Nigerian and foreign film stakeholders who have in the recent past promoted authentic Nigerian and African resonate stories, and continue to contribute immensely to the growth of inclusive global film production.

Stephanie Okereke Linus, an A-list Nigerian actress, filmmaker, activist with lead appearances in over 100 movies, including an Afro-Hollywood, USA Filmmakers Award for Excellence, Reel Awards for Best Actress, and recently, the AMVCA Award for Best Overall Movie in Africa as well as recipient of the AMAA Award for Best Nigerian Film for her impactful work DRY was named as the Chairperson of the Jury.

Other members are Kenneth Gyang- director of This Is Lagos, Mojisola as well as Oloture Netflix’s Original from Nigeria; Aisha Halilu Abdullahi – a docu-drama and documentary specialist; Ishaq Sidi Ishaq – an actor, writer and producer of “Kamilu”,‘‘Wasila’’; Charles Novia – an avant-garde Nollywood ﬁlmmaker, scriptwriter, producer, director and creative entrepreneur; Hakeem Kae Kazim – a supremely talented actor, producer, director of great cinematic portrayal of George Rutugunda in the Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda, as well as playing leading roles in The Librarian.

The Triangle, and knack for creating feisty and deeply thrilling characters; Sihle Hlophe – director with multiple awards and over 15 years of experience; Ronya Man – an acting coach and creative arts specialist with handles on Lahira, SIN.

The Johnsons, as well as Juliet Ibrahim – a bilingual (French and English) speaking multiple award-wining producer, director, entrepreneur with over 100 movie appearances. Zaiyanu Tanko Waziri, a veteran filmmaker and broadcaster with over two decades of professional experience was also named as member of the jury.

In the statement, Dr. Ali Nuhu, NFC’s Managing Director & Chairman, Festival Organising Committee, on behalf of its partner, the FCTA, congratulated Stephanie Okereke – Linus for emerging as Chairperson of the Jury. Dr. Nuhu said that the Jury Chairperson and her team’s roles are critical to the overall success of the Film Festival brand, which no effort has been spared in its organization in terms of content, attendance and participation. NFC; Nuhu averred, remains committed to achieving the objectives of sustaining the positive narratives that Nigeria with a huge creative economy, is indeed the hub of film production in Africa.

Zuma International Film Festival 2024, the 14th in the series and themed: Digital Renaissance: Embracing The Future takes place December 1st – 5th at Chida Event Centre, Abuja Nigeria. Meanwhile, Etuk added that the online registration portal of the film festival has opened, and intending participants can register through the link :- https://zumafilmfest.com/zuff-2024-registration.

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