The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs,@AkunnaCook on a Courtesy Visit to HMIC, Alh. Lai Mohammed to discuss collaboration btw Nigeria and US on the Creative Industry. The meeting was also attended by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Mary Beth Leonard.
Remarks by The Hon. Minister of Information & Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammad, during a Courtesy Visit by Ms Akunna E. Cook, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs....In Abuja on Thursday, 17 Feb. 2022.
#Thread 👇
#Thread 👇
Let me formally welcome the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms, Akunna E. Cook, who is here in Nigeria to seek collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in the area of the Creative Industry.
2. This visit couldn't have come at a better time, considering that we here in Nigeria are working hard to reposition the Creative and Culture Industry, which has been badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Creative and Culture Industry is a key sector of the Nigerian economy, contributing 17.3% to the country's GDP in 2020 and, together with other seemingly unrelated sectors, providing between 10 and 15 million jobs.
Indeed, the Creative and Culture Industry is the biggest employer of labour after Agriculture.
3. Realizing the need to give the sector a shot in the arm in the wake of the pandemic, we set up a committee, tagged the POST COVID-19 INITIATIVES ON THE CREATIVE AND CULTURE INDUSTRY, to assess the impact of the pandemic on the sector and recommend measures to mitigate such.
The committee did an excellent job and, before you leave, I will present a copy to you to give you an overview of the importance and relevance of the sector to the Nigerian economy.
4. Let me quickly say that the industry, which includes Film/tv/radio, Music, Performance Arts, IT, Gaming and Software Development, Publishing and Printing as well as Fashion and Tourism, has received strategic interventions from the Nigerian Government in the past.
These include the 22.9 Billion Naira Central Bank of Nigeria Creative Industry Financing Initiatives; the 1 Billion Naira Bank of Industry Nollyfund; another 1 Billion Naira Bank of Industry Fashion and Beauty Fund; N-Power Creative and Project Act Nollywood Federal Grant.
We are still exploring other avenues to further give the sector a lift.
5. I know you have a flight to catch, so let me quickly end my remarks by calling for more collaboration between Nigeria and the
United States in the Creative and Culture Industry.
United States in the Creative and Culture Industry.
Of immediate importance to us in Nigeria at this time is how to continue to improve the quality of our films. As you know, Nollywood, as our film industry is known, is among the top three in the world.
Yes, the quality of our films have improved incrementally over the years, but we can still benefit from the rich experience of America's Hollywood, the undisputed world best.
Apart from improving the quality of our production through technical training and exchanges, we will also like to learn a few tricks in the area of Animation.
6. Once again, I welcome Ms Cook and her team to our dear country and, since we are meeting on the last day of your visit, I wish you a
safe trip back home.
7. I thank you for your kind attention
safe trip back home.
7. I thank you for your kind attention
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