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Tag: Creative Industry

  • FG rolls out development fund for creative sector

    FG rolls out development fund for creative sector

    Hannatu Musawa, Minister of  Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy (FMACTCE) says  the Federal Government, through the ministry, has launched the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) to ensure that  creative industries thrive.

    The minister made the disclosure in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media and  Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, on Sunday in Abuja.

    She said the Fund was a strategic national investment designed to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s creative sector, positioning it as a driver of economic growth and cultural diplomacy.

    According to her, the CEDF is a bold step toward realising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at fostering job creation, economic diversification, and enhancing Nigeria’s global cultural influence.

    “The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy invites eligible creatives, entrepreneurs, and organisations to apply for funding through the Creative Economy Development Fund.

    “The Fund is a strategic national investment designed to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s creative sector, positioning it as a driver of economic growth and cultural diplomacy.

    “This is not just a financial intervention, it is a call to action for creatives, entrepreneurs, and industry enablers to scale their dreams and contribute to a thriving, inclusive creative economy.

    “CEDF supports creative businesses by providing capital to scale production, expand market access and build resilience.

    “It also allows creators to leverage intellectual property as a financial asset, unlocking the value of film rights, music catalogues, digital content, and other creative works.

    “The initiative offers various funding options for creative businesses, including affordable loans and credit facilities for businesses across sectors such as film, music, fashion, art, publishing, gaming, and cultural tourism.

    “Equity and quasi-equity investments in high-growth creative enterprises, grant funding for socially impactful and innovative cultural projects and focus on leveraging intellectual property (IP) as a bankable asset class for securing financing”, she said.

    Musawa, emphasised that  the fund provides tailored financial support through debt, equity, and grant funding to boost promote innovation, and increase global visibility for Nigeria’s creative assets, cultural projects, and tourism-linked enterprises.

    The minister, said the application process will be rolled out in phases, with the first call for proposals opened  till May 30, prioritising mature projects seeking over $100,000.

    She said the second phase will open on August 4, 2025, focusing on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) requesting under $100,000.

    “Application review, project onboarding, incubation, and acceleration for phase one will take place from June to December 2025, with the disbursement of funds starting on January 1, 2026.

    “For phase two, disbursements will start on April 1, 2026. The fund is open to individuals, businesses, and institutions operating across the creative and cultural economy, including writers, directors, artists and fashion designers.

    “Others include gaming studios, cultural tourism providers, training institutions, promoters, legal consultants, media agencies, digital platforms, and logistics companies”, she said.

    The minister urged industry players seeking   updates and additional information   about the fund to contact CEDFnigeria.com

    She said applications would be assessed by independent professionals with oversight from a private sector investment committee.

    The minister added that CEDF is structured as an independent, professionally managed investment fund, with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated serving as the anchor shareholder.

    She, therefore, urged  interested investors and development partners  to reach out to the ministry for  co-investment opportunities or participation in specific sub-funds.

  • Death denied us opportunity to celebrate Sammie Okposo – Duke

    Death denied us opportunity to celebrate Sammie Okposo – Duke

    Amb. Felix Duke, the National President of Creative Industry Group (CIG), says it is unbelievable and difficult to accept that a Gospel music legend, Sammie Okposo, is no more.

    Duke, who disclosed he was still in shock over Okposo’s death on Saturday in Lagos, said that the group planned to celebrate Okposo, a Gospel singer, popularly known as ‘Welu Welu Master” in its CIG Night in September, but it was shifted due to his engagements.

    Okposo, 51-year-old Delta-born veteran singer and music producer, slumped and died on Nov. 25. His brother, Hector Okposo, had in his handle on Instagram, confirmed the musician’s death as a result of heart attack. Okposo was the Chief Executive Officer of Zamar Entertainment.

    According to Duke, Sammie Okposo, my brother, I refused to accept that you have gone. I am still in shock and short of words.

    “Even, when it has been confirmed since yesterday, because death denied us the opportunity to celebrate you as agreed.

    “We planned to celebrate him last Friday in September at our monthly CIG Night, but Okposo said that he will be travelling to America.

    “So, we were waiting before this sad development and that opportunity was never actualised.

    “This is a very painful and deep wound, my heart bleeds because we have lost a great talent, a creative music legend and a Gospel singer, who has put in so much in the industry.

    “Having known him, grew up and struggled in the city of Lagos with him for over 30 years in music, he played as a keyboardist, while I was a drummer. I will personally miss him,” he said.

    According to him, Okposo was full of life; whenever he mounts the stage, picked the mic, his lyrics and voice lits up, lift souls and makes everyone dance and happy.

    The CIG leader described the late Okposo as the longest-standing gospel artiste who have made his mark in the industry.

    “His music will remain evergreen in the gospel music scene,” he said.

    Duke said that Okposo, until his death, was an active member of CIG Music Sector, adding that his demise had created a vacuum and left members in a state of mourning.

    While expressing condolence to the family, he said that the executive members of CIG would visit the immediate family and identify with burial arrangement as it unfolds.

  • Minister advocates grants, tax holidays for creative Industry

    Minister advocates grants, tax holidays for creative Industry

    Dr Ramatu Aliyu, Minister of State for FCT, has solicited various waivers, grants, tax holidays, rebates and other related incentives as part of measures to boost the creative industry.

    Aliyu made the call while delivering a lecture at the ongoing 2022 Zuma Film Festival.

    The festival has the title: “Post COVID-19 funding policy framework partnerships between the FCTA and the Nigerian Film Corporation, for the Nigerian film industry through rebates, location incentives, tax credits and film grants.”

    She argued that the only major way government could make the creative industry attractive to investors and major players was to introduce waivers, grants, tax holidays, rebates and other related incentives.

    Aliyu lamented that lip service had been paid to the quest for a film industry development fund over the years, adding that the film industry needed a better understanding of the tax laws and how they apply to the industry.

    She, however, assured stakeholders that the present administration was leaving no stone unturned toward ensuring that the tax environment was investment-friendly.

    The minister said that an investor-friendly tax environment would certainly attract foreign investment because tax incentives available within a nation’s tax environment constitute veritable opportunities for local and foreign investors to build on.

    “With the return to democracy in 1999, several waivers, grants, tax holidays, rebates and incentives were given to super industrialists, helping them to wax strong from available statistics.

    “It therefore becomes very logical for us to try these same measures which have worked in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors and see if they wouldn’t also succeed in the creative industry sector.

    She said that the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a toll on countries, global economies, industries, families and individuals world over and has left humans with the “new normal.”

    Aliyu, however, reiterated that the FCT Administration was poised to provide all the necessary incentives that would attract major players in the film industry into the nation’s capital city.

    Thenewsguru.com report that the Director-General and Chief Executive, Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, pointed out that the Nigerian Film Corporation Annual Lecture series remains one of the corporation’s platforms used to contribute to the evolvement of policy frameworks.

    “Policy documents and frameworks are, by no means, mere directional intent; they are key navigational and instructional compass which provide clear and distinct objectives as well as the means to achieving them.”

    Maduekwe called for policy framework that would not only provide the needed opportunities, but which could exacerbate the needed impetus to grow the Nigerian creative economy.

    While recognising some of the challenges facing the film production chain in the country, the NFC boss called for adequate and appropriate return on investment for film and other creative works.

    “We are aware that securing locations for film shoot that will depict Nigeria in its beautiful state don’t abound. Where they do, filmmakers find it difficult to access them.

    “We believe, however, that with the existence of a policy framework, accessibility to film locations will be achieved with ease,” he stressed.

  • Nigeria safe to host maiden global tourism conference – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria safe to host maiden global tourism conference – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stated that the country is safe to host the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry scheduled for Nov. 14 to Nov. 17 in Lagos.

    Mohammed said this when he featured on a phone-in programme of the Radio Nigeria monitored by newsmen in Abuja.

    Newsmen reports that Nigeria was given the hosting right for the maiden global event by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at a meeting held at the organisation’s headquarters in Madrid Spain on April 19.

    Mohammed said the insinuation in certain quarters that participants and tourists would not attend the conference because of stories of killings and kidnappings in the country are erroneous.

    “The security challenges Nigeria is facing did not start today and I must say the Federal Government is rising very stoutly to it.

    “We cannot say just because we have insecurity challenge, other sectors of the economy should not be developed.

    “The entire world is aware of the challenges we are facing, yet we were singled out for the hosting of the very first global conference and that speaks volume.

    “That is why Nigerians should get out the negativity and look at the positive aspect of it,’’ he said.

    The minister said that insecurity is a global challenge and countries with a worse situations than Nigeria were developing their tourism potential.

    “Britain for instance, for more than 40 years, was in the grip of the IRA and that did not prevent the country from hosting global events.

    “I recalled that even before the call for peace process in June 1997, Britain bided for the world cup 1996 which, though they lost.

    “During our meeting in Spain, there was no issue raised on insecurity in Nigeria as a barrier

    “On the contrary, the UNWTO was even expanding the scope of the conference and they did not make a mistake in choosing Nigeria to host the maiden conference,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said “what we are saying is that, we have security challenges which we are facing squarely, but it is not enough reason why we should not develop the areas of the economy where in particular we are making waves.

    “The Whiz Kid of this world, the Burna Boy, Davido and Tiwa Savage have really shown the world that Nigeria is a hub of the creative industry.

    “Hosting this conference is an affirmation of huge Nigeria’s contributions to the creative industry and the recognition that Nigeria is the hub of the creative industry in Africa,’’ he said.

    The minister also countered the argument that the government was not developing the nation’s tourism potential enough.

    According to him, one of the most important areas of developing the tourism industry is by building infrastructure.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration can beat its chest that as a government, it had done very well in infrastructure development.

    “We have constructed many roads, renovated, remodeled and upgraded our airports and we have for the first time revived the rail sector.

    “All these will help interconnectivity and for people to move from one place to the other.

    “We have also made a lot of milestone in providing regulations and policies that will aid the promotion of tourism sector.

    “For instance the Revised Broadcasting Code is to give Nigeria a pride of place in the film and Music industry,’’ he said.

    Mohammed reiterated the readiness of Nigeria to host the event come November at the National Theatre in Lagos, currently being renovated at a cost of 100 million dollars made available by Bankers’ Committee and Central Bank of Nigeria

  • COVID-19: Ali Baba hails Buhari’s govt, speaks on brain behind creative industry committee

    COVID-19: Ali Baba hails Buhari’s govt, speaks on brain behind creative industry committee

    Chairman of the newly set up post-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) committee for the creative industry, Mr. Ali Baba has expressed appreciation to the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

    Ali Baba expressed his appreciation following the inauguration of the post-Covid-19 committee for the creative industry by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Tuesday.

    Speaking on why the committee was set up, Ali Baba said there was a need to know who is who in the creative industry and what each person is contributing to the industry as a whole, including how each of those services had been interrupted.

    “Thank you all for responding to the call by the #CreativeIndustryCommittee. The platform for the questionnaires has now closed. The interesting thing we found out, is that many people don’t like to share what will benefit others.

    “So, you are a Deejay, you filled as an individual, you know many other Deejays like you, but refuse to tell them to go do the same. But you will share with them jokes, videos, Instagram reposts… etc at the drop of a hat.

    “The Committee was set up because of the need to know who is who in the creative industry and what each person is contributing to the industry as a whole. Including how each of those services had been interrupted.

    “The other purpose of the mandate is also to enable us suggest to government how they can support the sector in the new way of going about its business, post COVID-19.

    “Many of the sub sectors, which form the whole industry, depend on each other to harness the economic value of all players. It’s an Ecosystem of connected chains, linked by services, platforms, creativity and value propositions, feeding off one another.

    “Musicians depend on radio and television to give them airtime. The broadcasters cannot use generator sound to entertain listeners. And no advertiser will come if they do not see your listeners and viewers.

    “Your journalists, photographers, reporters, presenters, keep your media empire alive. Writers need printers and publishers. Proofreaders and editors need writers to be in business.

    “What would gallery owners display if not creative works of artists? The artists also need the Galleries to showcase their works. Who covers events? Photographers and videographers. Journalists report the event.

    “Yet, Event planners will tell you they are the most important sector in the ecosystem and as such, they are the most hit by the pandemic. True that they have been hit. But the broadcast industry, has been hit, and they are still on air.

    “The creative industry is closely knitted together. That is why a holistic approach has to be employed, to curate the Covid-19 damage to all the sectors. We are still working to cover all. It’s less than 2 weeks to go,” Ali Baba stated.

    TNG reports Lai Mohammed inaugurated the post-Covid-19 committee for the creative industry on Tuesday with a call on all members of the industry to support the committee in the interest of the industry.

    “The Committee’s membership, as announced two weeks ago, has now been expanded to include as many sectors as possible. This is to ensure a fair representation.

    ”However, while the committee cannot accommodate all members of the

    industry, it is certain that all members will benefit from its work.

    “I therefore want to implore the entire industry to support this committee. This is no time for division. All hands must be on deck so the industry can rebound,” the Minister said while inaugurating the committee.

    Lai Mohammed described the creative industry as a very critical sector of the nation’s economy and a major plank of the economic diversification policy of this administration.

    He said that in view of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the creative industry, it has become imperative to have a collective and government-supported approach in dealing with the immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the sector.

    “Two weeks ago, I announced the establishment of this committee. In doing so, I said the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the nation, and that the Creative Industry has been particularly hard hit, considering the fact that it is an industry that has people-interaction at its core. I also said that instead of addressing

    these problems piecemeal, we should do so holistically for a more positive outcome,” the Minister said.

    While commending members of the Committee for their sacrifice and love of country, he urged them to do justice to the assignment, which will culminate in suitable recommendations that will help the industry to thrive and expand.

    The committee’s terms of reference are: assess the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general; advise the government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the sector as well as to create succour for the industry small businesses; suggest the type of taxation and financing that is best for the industry at this time to encourage growth and advise the government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.

    Members of the Committee are:

    1. Ali Baba – Comedy, Film and TV (Chairman)

    2. Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim – Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria

    (BON) – Vice Chairman

    3. Bolanle Austen Peters – Film and Performing Arts

    4. Charles Novia – Television and Independent Producer

    5. Segun Arinze- Actor and Producer

    6. Ali Jita – Actor and Musician

    7. Baba Agba – Film Director

    8. Kene Okwuosa – Cinema and Distribution

    9. Efe Omoregbe – Record label and Collective rights management

    10. Prince Daniel Aboki – Radio and Film

    11. Chioma Ude – Streaming

    12. Olumade Adesemowo – Television and Platform (FreeTV)

    13. Dare Art Alade – Livespot Entertainment

    14. Oliver Enwonwu – President, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA),

    15. Alhaji Saleh Rabo – President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria

    16. Bala Hassan – Booksellers Association

    17 Ali Nuhu – Kannywood

    18 Tajudeen Owoyemi – Hotels

    19. B.M. Dzukogi – Association of Nigerian Authors

    20. TY Bello – Photography

    21. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi – Fashion

    22. Anita Eboigbe – Secretary

  • Nollywood associations protest over non-inclusion in FG’s initiative to mitigate effects of Covid-19 on creative industry

    Nollywood associations protest over non-inclusion in FG’s initiative to mitigate effects of Covid-19 on creative industry

    A coalition of Nollywood associations have registered their discomfort over their non-inclusion in the Federal Government‘s initiative to mitigate effects COVID-19 on the creative industry.

    In the statement obtained by TheNewsGuru and signed by Presidents of Nollywood guilds like Emeka Rollas, Mr Latin, Fred Amata and others, they urged the Federal Government to include the Presidents of these associations, in their purported plan to alleviate the effects of COVID-19 on the Nigerian creative industry.

    Read the statement below:

    “Our attention has been drawn to a purported creative industry committee reportedly set up by the Federal Government to advise it on how to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative industry as reported in the press on the 6th of May 2020. We first wish to commend the government for having such initiative and intentions for the creative industry. It is a welcome and thoughtful approach to positive intervention and in alignment with other progressive governments the world over, who having appreciated the impact of the pandemic on their creative sectors, developed palliative programs as a support net.

    However, in those other climes there are processes and approaches indicative of a transparent and equitable desire to ensure that the needs and requirements of the target sectors are achieved! It is an incontrovertible fact that, the Nigerian creative industry with over 20 guilds, employs about 2.5million Nigerian youths; and is recognised globally as the fastest growing creative industry. With the second largest movie production industry in the world, it is an industry worth over US$2Billion with a contribution of 2.3% to the nation’s GDP.

    It is also a known fact that these 2.5M Nigerians belong to associations and organisations generally referred to as guilds, whom they have willingly through legitimate elections handed over the incumbency of their mandates; saying in essence speak and act on our behalf on matters affecting our interests, welfare and wellbeing! It is then inherent and indeed compelling that any discussion concerning the welfare of the industry should as a matter of equity and transparency involve the participation of those guild heads.

    Presently, Nigeria is involved in the process of financial discussions with international finance bodies. No matter how rich or influential the most successful industrialist or the most successful banker maybe, or how connected with those financial organisations, they cannot lead the sovereign government delegation to those talks.

    In the same manner the citizens of Nigeria would hold the federal government responsible so do the 2.5m workers of the Nigerian creative sector hold the guilds and their leaders responsible! In as much as the ministry may in its wisdom nominate individuals from the industry as additional resource persons based on their experiences and reach , there is the clear and present danger that the government will miss its mark when it does not appreciate and incorporate the workings of a sub- sector of the economy when the leadership of that sector are not consulted prior to major decisions affecting the sector.

    Nollywood is one of the priority sectors identified by the government for its Economic Recovery and Growth Plans with a projected US$1Billion export revenue in 2020. This is the more reason why the government must involve the leadership of the industry on critical issues affecting the industry rather than only hand-picking a few practitioners no matter how prominent they may be. We have always believed that where there is a will, there is always a way. In that vein we therefore urge the ministry to henceforth incorporate guild heads whenever it proposes rigorous engagements with the creative industry both now and in the future. If really the government is serious about this noble initiative; we then respectfully call on the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to reconstitute the committee to reflect the actual representatives of the industry. If guilds like the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association among others are engaged as strategic stakeholders by the government through their recognised association’s leadership then the creative industry deserves the same regard.

    We hold this truth to be self-evident that the Nollywood sector of our creative enterprise and industry has structured leadership founded and anchored on their Guilds and Associations and we urge the Honourable Minister of Information or any other representative of the federal government, its parastatals and agencies planning any intended dealings with Nollywood to kindly but officially do so through the Guilds and Associations.

    SIGNED For Nollywood Associations and Guilds:

    Presidents: 1) AMP Ralph Nwadike 2) AGN Emeka Rollas 3) DGN Fred Amata 4) SWGN Yinka Ogun 5) ANCOP Daisy Madu-Chikwendu 6) MOPPAN Ahmad Sarari 7) CDGN Sele O. Sele 8) FVPMAN Emeka Aduah 9) ITPAN Yinka Oduniyi 10) MACDAN Barr. Izu Osuigwe 11) CEMP Chief Peddie Okhao 12) AMPEEN Mensah Paul 13) NANTAP Israel Eboh 14) TAMPAN Otunba Bolaji Amusan 15) AMCOD Hon Sola Awoleye 16) AVOA Ngozi Ogbonna 17) CSN 18) ANTP “.

  • FG approves N7bn intervention fund for creative industry

    FG approves N7bn intervention fund for creative industry

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed says the Federal Government through Bank of Industry (BoI) has approved facility of about seven billion naira under its creative industry group.

    Ahmed said this at the Greeners Business-to-Business Annual National Economic Dialogue 2020 held in Abuja on Saturday.

    The economic dialogue has a theme “Positioning Nigeria’s Creative Industry as Growth Engine of Africa Continental Trade Agreement (AFCTA)”.

    Represented by her Special Adviser on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr Armstrong Takang, the minister said the fund was approved to a creative group of 35 firms in content production, content distribution, production equipment, digital transmission equipment among others.

    Ahmed said in order to continue to build capacities among Nigerian youths, the N-Power Creative programme was created to train and develop 5,000 young creative talents.

    According to her, the strategy is to put the creative industry on the global radar as exporters of world-class services and content.

    She disclosed that the beneficiaries were trained and certified in Animation, Graphic Design, Post-production and Script Writing.

    She added that all beneficiaries received computing devices that enabled them to master their skills during and after the training.

    Speaking on AFCTA, the minister said the major areas which Nigeria had a comparative advantage in the creative economy were Music, Film, Information Technology Industries and Fashion.

    She stated that in 2016, the film industry sector contributed N239 billion of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Nigeria’s music industry grew by 9 per cent in 2016 to reach a value of 39 million dollars.

    Ahmed noted that the music industry was set to grow by 13.4 per cent by 2021, with an estimated worth of about 73 million dollars adding that the gaming industry in Nigeria was also growing.

    “The gaming industry is benefitting from a widening customer base, mostly the large and youthful population. UNICON values Nigeria’s video game industry at 150 million dollars.

    “It also estimates mobile gaming to surpass 147 million dollars by 2020”.

    In his remarks, the convener of the dialogue, Dr Mustapha Popoola said this year programme was the fifth economic dialogue which aimed at mentoring people to develop their businesses.

    Popoola said that a lot of Nigerians mainly youths had registered under the platform.

    He disclosed that the business to business which was a hub was being taken to a creative hub and would be expanded to major cities of the country.

    He stated that plan had been concluded to open centres in Lagos and Kano with a view to help develop people with business ideas across the country.

  • CBN sets $10.7bn growth target for creative industry

    After announcing the injection of N22 billion seed capital into the creative industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday gave the movie production and distribution a $10.7 billion growth target in the next five years.

    CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele who broke the news yesterday at the Creative Nigeria Summit in Lagos with theme: “Finance for Growth”, said the intervention of the apex bank in the music and movie industry would be in the areas of support to young entrepreneurs in the development of digital content.

    The project is also expected to create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    Emefiele said the measures, billed to be implemented over a five-year period, would increase the contribution of the movie industry to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), from one to three per cent.

    It would also result in improved revenue generation of over $300 million from production and distribution of Nigerian movies at cinema locations at home and abroad, as well as the creation of over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    He said the CBN and the Bankers Committee had set up the Creative Industries and Financing Initiative (CIFI). Using the Agric-Business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) fund, through which the banks set aside, on an annual basis, five per cent of their Profit After Tax (PAT), to support startups and existing businesses in the creative industry space.

    The plans also cover the development of a creative industry park in three major cities in the country.

    The CBN boss said: With the kind support of the Federal and Lagos governments, the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, is expected to serve as the initial pilot for the Creative Industries Park.

    “Our plan is to develop a 40- acre Creative Industry Park around the National Theatre including giving the Theater itself tremendous face lift; thereby reopening the touring potential the National Theatre offered during the FESTAC 77 arts culture. Following the deployment of the pilot scheme in Lagos, we intend to set up similar parks in Kano, Port Harcourt or Enugu.”

    Besides, Emefiele noted that individuals would have the opportunity to showcase their work at the park, which will expose them to domestic and external investors that can provide them with additional resources that will enable further production and expansion of their creative works.

    He said that a critical aspect of the park would be devoted to supporting the growth of the Nigeria’s fashion industry.

    Emefiele said: “The textile, apparel and footwear sub-sector remain the second largest contributor to Nigeria’s manufacturing (after food, beverage and tobacco) sector. Total output in fourth quarter of 2017 was estimated at $1.3 billion or 23.3 per cent of manufacturing GDP. Sadly today, Nigeria spends over $2 billion on imported textiles, including machine-made cloths imported from Asia which copy popular Nigerian designs. This action has taken place despite the abundant talents in the fashion industry in Nigeria, some of whom are gaining prominence both locally and internationally,” he said.

    He said the initiative will also help to support the growth of the cotton and textile industry by off taking on the products being produced in textile mills in Kano, Kaduna and Lagos.

    “Over the next five years, the park will help support 10,000 young Nigerians with improved design skills, while creating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) industry. The Shared Service Facility will also serve as a showroom to the world on quality fabrics being designed and produced in Nigeria,” he said.

    Emefiele said that over 50,000 Nigerians would benefit from this ICT centre, which will create over 25,000 software engineers and 150,000 skilled and unskilled jobs. He added that it could result in potential GDP gains of close to $2 billion while curbing importation of IT solutions that can be produced in Nigeria.

  • Creative industries to benefit from EU online copyright reform

    The creative industries will benefit from online copyright reform as the European Union (EU) is set to rewrite its two-decades-old copyright rules.

    The online copyright reform will force Google and Facebook to share revenue with the creative industries and remove copyright-protected content on YouTube or Instagram.

    Negotiators from the EU countries, the European Parliament and the European Commission clinched a deal after day-long negotiations.

    The commission, the EU’s executive body, launched the debate two years ago, saying the rules needed to be overhauled to protect the bloc’s cultural heritage and make sure that publishers, broadcasters and artists are remunerated fairly.

    “Agreement reached on #copyright! Europeans will finally have modern copyright rules fit for digital age with real benefits for everyone: guaranteed rights for users, fair remuneration for creators, clarity of rules for platforms,” EU digital chief Andrus Ansip said in a tweet.

    Under the new rules, Google and other online platforms will have to sign licensing agreements with rights holders such as musicians, performers, authors, news publishers and journalists to use their work online.

    Google’s YouTube and Facebook’s Instagram and other sharing platforms will be required to install upload filters to prevent users from uploading copyrighted materials.

    Google, which has lobbied intensively against both features and even suggested that it may pull Google News from Europe, said it would study the text before deciding on its next steps.

    “Copyright reform needs to benefit everyone – including European creators and consumers, small publishers and platforms … The details will matter,” the company said in a tweet.

     

  • FG’s support for Creative Industry paying off – Lai Mohammed

    The increased attention and support being given the Creative Industry by the Buhari Administration has started yielding fruits, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.

    Speaking at the premiere of the movie ”Wedding Party 2” in Lagos on Sunday, the Minister listed the pioneer status granted to the Industry, the stepped-up anti-piracy campaign and the decision to seek stimulus capital for the Industry from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as some of the positive results.

    He recalled that shortly after the Creative Industry Financing Conference in Lagos earlier in the year, he led a delegation of the film industry stakeholders to the Inspector General of Police, which resulted in the formation of anti-piracy units in all the 36 states of the federation ”The subsequent extensive piracy raids have now resulted in the confiscation of pirated films worth hundreds of millions of Naira. In fact, criminal prosecutions of culprits have now started,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    He also recalled how, shortly after the Conference, the federal government granted pioneer status to the Creative Industry to reduce financial burdens on new investments and encourage both foreign and local investments into the film industry.

    The Minister congratulated Ms. Mo Abudu and all those involved in the production of ”Wedding Party 2”, saying with the blockbusters being churned out by Nigerian film producers, ”we can formally announce to the world that a true film industry has arrived in our Nollywood.”

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Mohammed has declared the arrival of a new dawn in the nation’s Creative Industry ”I am totally encouraged that Nigeria is indeed on track with all the capabilities to diversify our economy in order to create jobs and boost our Gross Domestic Product. It’s great to note that the Creative sector is taking the lead to achieve this,” he said at the opening of the musical ”Fela and the Kalakuta Queens” at Terra Kulture, also in Lagos on Sunday.

    He said the vibrancy in the sector is largely due to the collaborative efforts of the Public and Private sectors, which the likes of Ms. Bolanle Austen Peters, founder of Terra Kulture, have leveraged with impressive results.

    The Minister congratulated Ms. Austen Peters, her management team and all the creative talent involved in the making ”Fela and the Kalakuta Queens”, saying: ”This production will no doubt take us to another level in our achievements and I want to assure you that this government is with the Creative sector all the way.”