By Udesinanna Stephen
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in improving the Nigeria’s creative industry to be unrivalled in Africa and the global economy, noting that “it is for this reason they refer to the President as ‘City Boy’.”
Shettima made this known while addressing key players and stakeholders in the nation’s creative and entertainment industry during the Art, Culture, and Creative Economy Roundtable. An Intervention organised by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He stated: “Thankfully, your President is the architect of the nation’s entertainment hub, and there’s a reason your industry refers to him as “City Boy.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not only cosmopolitan, a man of arts and culture in tune with the realities of your industry, but he has also acknowledged your industry as a critical segment of the global economy.”
According to the VP, the Tinubu administration to ensure a more inclusive and prosperous future for the country’s creative economy, adding that the President Tinubu-led government is poised to increase the voices of Nigeria’s creative minds, empower the nation’s best talents and harness the unconstrained potential within the country’s diverse cultural tapestry.
Shettima said, “This round-table is an avenue for us to deliberate and recommit ourselves to fostering an environment that nurtures creativity, innovation, and inclusivity. More than ever, we see the need to amplify the voices of our creative minds, empower our best talents, and harness the unbridled potential that lies within the folds of Nigeria’s diverse cultural tapestry.
“This round-table discussion isn’t just for us to chart a course that celebrates our past achievements. It’s for us to pave the way for an even brighter, more inclusive, and prosperous future for Nigeria’s creative economy. For it is through such synergy that we shall continue to ascend to greater heights and cement Nigeria’s rightful place as the unrivalled creative powerhouse of Africa”.
“So, we are here to make true our promise to you and let you know that the time has come for your industry to be at the negotiation table in Abuja.”