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Tag: Alhaji Lai Mohammed

  • Why FG is commercialising NFC – Lai Mohammed

    Why FG is commercialising NFC – Lai Mohammed

    The Federal Government says it is reforming and commercialising the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) to address the agency’s teething challenges and reposition it for improved performance.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known on Monday in Abuja while inaugurating a Steering Committee for the Reform and Commercialisation of the Corporation.

    He said the federal government has engaged the services of a Business Development Consultant to conduct a due diligence on the corporation and sector and recommend a strategy that is suitable for its reform and commercialisation.

    Mohammed said the NFC, which was established with a mandate to plan, promote, organise and co-ordinate the development of the Nigerian motion picture industry, has not been able to meet up with its statutory functions.

    He noted that since its establishment, the Corporation has faced several challenges including inability to engage in commercial film production.

    The minister said the law establishing NFC limits its operational functions such that it cannot leverage on the private sector-led growth of the industry.

    He added that the National Film Institute (NFI), a unit in NFC, is not empowered to leverage its technical and professional capabilities for commercial purposes and revenue generation.

    Mohammed said the NFC’s civil service structure comes with bureaucratic limitations, budgetary constraints and operational inefficiency.

    “A critical look at the existing organizational structure shows that NFC is over-bloated and needs to be restructured to reflect its purpose.

    “NFC has obsolete equipment, with some dating back to colonial times,” he said.

    The minister noted that the reform of the corporation will help in the efforts of the government to reposition the nation’s film industry, Nollywood, and make Nigeria the capital of entertainment in Africa.

    Relying on International Monetary Fund data, Mohammed said Nollywood is the second largest employer of Labour and contributed N893 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015.

    The minister noted that Nollywood could perform better if the NFC is restructured and needed infrastructure enabling environment are provided.

    He noted that apart from wealth and employment creation, promoting film industry would help to build inclusion and reduce social tension.

    Earlier, Mr Alex Okoh, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), said with the tremendous potentials of the film industry to reposition the nation’s economy, the government needed to play a prominent role.

    Okoh said that the government is reforming the NFC to take the leading role in harnessing the potentials in the sector.

    He, however, clarified that the reform process “is not a privatisation of the corporation but the commercialization of this important enterprise and agency of government”.

    “The clarification is that in this reform process, there is no transfer of ownership, no sale of shares and no privatization of the entity.

    “It is basically to ensure the resident value of the enterprise and its commercial viability,” he said.

    He said the steering committee being chaired by the minister would consider and approve the recommendations submitted by the project delivery team for the commercialisation of the corporation.

    Other members of the steering committee inaugurated by the minister are, Okoh, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Grace Gekpe and the Managing Director of NFC, Chidia Maduekwe.

    The Director Information and Communication of BPE, Dikko Mohammed, will serve as the Secretary to the committee.

    NFC, established by Decree No. 61 of 1979 and is 100 per cent owned by the Federal Government and has its registered office in Jos, Plateau State.
    It is established to distribute documentary films on different aspects of Nigeria’s socio-cultural and political life and provide film services for the Federal Government.
    The corporation is to train young talented Nigerians in the art of film making, conducting research into Nigerian films and provide technical and financial support to film Industry and practitioners.
    NFC is also established to regulate and organise professional practice in the film industry.
  • Kebbi Emirate honours Lai Mohammed with traditional title

    Kebbi Emirate honours Lai Mohammed with traditional title

    The Kebbi Emirate Council on Tuesday bestowed on the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the traditional title of “Kakakin Kebbi” (Ambassador of Kebbi Culture in Nigeria and Beyond.)

    The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mera, who announced this in Abuja, also decorated the minister and handed him a traditional sword as a symbol of authority.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the brief ceremony was on the sidelines of the international press conference for the 2020 and 60th edition of the Argungu Fishing Festival.

    “Our decision is based on the recognition of your efforts to project the cultural heritage of the diverse people of Nigeria to the world and create jobs, income and positive awareness for our youths through festivals, arts and cultural exhibition.

    “We admire your loyalty to our country and your fearless defence of our national identity and integrity through the discharge of the responsibilities of your office.

    “Argungu international fishing and cultural festival was admitted into the UNESCO list of intangible festivals and humanity under your watch,” the emir said.

    Mera said that the decision was taken at the Emirate Council’s meeting held on Wednesday which was also attended by the Kebbi state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe.

    “We realised that it was during the time of the minister that the Argungu fishing festival is given a global recognition by UNESCO.

    ” Argungu is representing Nigeria on a global platform.

    “I don’t know of any individual outside the emirate who has shown so much concern and enthusiasm toward the festival.

    ” Because of this and all other things that the minister had done for this country which is open to everyone that he has been a fierce defender of the unity and integrity of Nigeria, Argungu traditional council deemed it fit to invite the minister to join us and be a member of our council by bestowing on him the traditional title of Kakakin Kebbi,” he said.

    The traditional ruler also disclosed that the investiture would be done whenever the minister was ready.

    The emir said that the press conference was to announce to the people locally and globally that the stage was set for the 2020 Argungu international fishing and cultural festival which would hold from March 11 to March 14.

    He said the 60th edition of the festival was unique because it would be holding after 10 years of its suspension due to security and other concerns.

    Mera specifically thanked the Federal Government for the support it had given to the festival since 1970 when it co-financed its hosting

    He said the partnership with the Federal Government had made the festival to enjoy unprecedented international recognition.

    “I want to state here that even though we have 10 years of suspension, the federal ministry has maintained the confidence that the festival will be reinstated.

    “In 2017, a contract of about N150 million was awarded for the upgrade of the trade and agriculture fair site.

    “In 2017, the festival enjoyed a major boost with the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture which made it possible for its recognition by UNESCO.

    ” We owe this huge success to the efforts of the minister and his team who found it worthy to present the festival to the world body.

    “Today, the festival enjoys support and partnership of the UN, the Federal Government, Kebbi State Government and the Argungu community,” he said.

    The minister, who appreciated the emirate for the honour bestowed on him, said it was quite unexpected adding that the recognition would propel him to do more.

    He said it was delightful that the globally recognised Argungu fishing and cultural festival was being revived after a 10-year hiatus.

    “This is delightful because this festival is one of the most widely attended festivals in Nigeria and the oldest festival of its kind dating back many generations.

    “The festival was inscribed in 2016 on the representative list of humanity by UNESCO.

    ” The list was created to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritage worldwide and the awareness of their significance.,” he said.

    Mohammed said his ministry attaches great importance to the festival like many others nationwide and would lead a team of local and international journalists to the celebration to help raise the profile.

    He announced that the ministry had included the festival in the Calendar of Nigerian Festivals set to be published.

    The minister said with the calendar, domestic and international tourists could plan their attendance of the various festivals in the country with ease.

    Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu, who was represented by his deputy, Yombe, said although the festival had remained a cultural event, some other highly entertaining events had been added.

    He listed the events lined up for the 2020 edition to include the grand fishing, Kabanci display, agriculture show, cultural displays, catapulting and archery.

    Bagudu said the festival would also witness traditional boxing and wrestling, motor rally, power bike and bicycle racing, donkey and camel racing, durbar and polo.

    “I will like to use the moment to invite competitors in all the events nationwide to come and compete. Winners will receive handsome rewards,” he said.

    The governor noted that Kebbi remained one of the most peaceful and safe state in the country, adding that the security of guests and participants were assured at the event and in their hotels.

    He said arrangement had also been made for airlines to provide additional flights to Kebbi and adjoining states during the festival.

    The governor gave an assurance that the 2020 festival, considered as a revival celebration, would give lasting impression to those that would witness it.

  • News Hour: Nigeria lost $32billion to corruption under Jonathan’s administration – UK I TNGtv

  • Social Media, two-edged sword for Information Officers – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the social media is a double-edged sword for information officers because of its real time advantage and the challenge of fake news.

    Mohammed made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day capacity building exercise for Strategic Communication Liaison Officers organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

     

    “Undeniably, technological advances have redefined the media landscape and the way information officers communicate government activities to the public.

     

    “But for the information officers, the social media is a double-edged sword.

     

    “Whereas it allows them to reach their audiences much faster, it also poses a lot of challenges, in particular, because the social media is blurring the line between fact and fiction between real news and fake news.

     

    “How the information officers overcome this challenge will go a long way in determining his or her success,’’ he said.

     

    The minister said that government information officers were strategic to achieving national strategic objectives through the strengthening of government communication.

     

    He said that the mandate of his ministry “is to manage the image, reputation and promote the culture of the people and government of Nigeria.’’.

     

    In realising the mandate, the minister recalled that in December last year, he launched a Federal Government Information APP (FGN-iAPP) as part of strategic communications activities to bridge the communication gap and bring people a click away from government.

     

    He said that the ministry also used town hall meetings, organised across the six geo-political zones to inform Nigerians and the international community about government programmes and to listen to criticism, feedback and advice from the citizens.

     

    The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to carrying people along in task of governance.

     

    He said that the ministry was leveraging on various social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype, Twitter and Instagram, among others to reach its audiences, especially the youths.

     

    The National Security Adviser, Alhaji Babagana Monguno said that the objective of the workshop was to harmonise government communication channels and activities.

     

    Monguno, who was represented by Mr Aminu Nabegu,

    a Permanent Secretary in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation said the present administration had eliminated inter-agency rivalry in its approach to effective communication.

     

    He challenged participants to come up with a strategic communication plan to counter the propaganda and negative narratives by terror and anti-state groups.