In line with the Federal Government’s resolve to
diversify the economy through strategic empowerment of critical sectors, the
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), will open the Creative
Industry Financing Conference holding at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, today
and tomorrow, Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
With ‘Financing the Film, Television and Music
Industries,’ as its theme, the conference is being organised by the
Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in conjunction with Think
Tank Media and Advertising headed by Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin.
The conference’s primary objective, according to
Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is to take the industry
into a golden era of smooth access to short and long term financing, world
class management as well as local and international distribution.
Speaking at a news briefing in Lagos at the weekend, the minister said the
conference was conceived to address the lack of access to financing, which is
stunting the growth of the creative industry. “It is the latest in a series of
conferences and other events that we have held since assuming office. Recall
that we held the landmark National Summit on Culture and Tourism last year to
chart the path for the industry. Most of its recommendations are already being
implemented,” Alhaji Mohammed said, adding that the conference reflects the
significance that Buhari administration attaches to the creative industry as
the government sees it as the new oil that is going to propel Nigerian economy
to greater heights.
Essentially, the conference grows from the
understanding that Nigeria, as the third largest film industry in the world,
the most successful music industry on the continent, and the second largest
television household market in Africa, evolved without a plan, without
government effort and without well-structured financing.
“Now, we are
desirous of exploiting and exploring these potentials,” the minister said.
‘’As you are undoubtedly aware, this Administration
attaches a whole lot of importance to the Creative Industry. This is in line
with its cardinal programme of diversifying the economy away from oil,’’ he
said, adding: ‘’There is no better demonstration of the high priority given to
the Creative Industry than the fact that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo, himself will declare open the Creative Industry Financing
Conference.’’
The Minister said the overall essence of the
Ministry’s efforts is to transform the Creative Industry to a Creative Economy.
“We also believe that this transformation must be driven by the private sector,
with the government providing the enabling environment,” he said.
The topics to be tackled by experts from within and
outside Nigeria include ‘Government’s Role in Funding Creative Industry: The
Bank of Industry Experience’, ‘Fundamentals of Financing Film, Television and
Music Production’ and ‘Film, Television and Digital Distribution’
Speakers at the conference include, chair of the
Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Hamzat Ayodele Subair; CEO of the
Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission; Yewande Sadiku; founder of
Iroko TV, Jason Njoku; Alex Okosi of Viacom International Media Network; Jeff
Kalligheri of Waterstone Entertainment and Kene Mkparu of Filnhouse Cinemas.
Others are Lindsey Oliver of Chiswick Park Studios,
Rachel Glaister of EVP International Brands and Press; Adeola Bali of Garment
Care Limited, Sanjay Salil of MediaGuru and Pai Gamde of the Nigerian Stock
Exchange.
