Chidimma UCHEGBU, Abuja
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohamed, has stressed the need for governments in Africa to invest in the creative industry as a way of solving youth unemployment and boosting the creative talent of youths.
The Minister, who made the remarks while briefing journalists on the just-concluded Annual General Meeting of the Afreximbank in Cairo, Egypt, where the creative industry featured prominently, said such support should be in form of providing grants for the sector and building the creative industry infrastructures such as event places, cinemas, internet connectivity, and cheap data.
“What we find lacking in the creative industry really is that governments across the continent need to do more than what we are doing now. They need to create infrastructure – we are not just talking about roads or bridges or airports but creative industry Infrastructure, both hardware, and software,” he said.
”We have the population, we have the talents, we need infrastructure, we need government grants,” said Alhaji Mohammed, who was a panelist at a session of the Afreximbank AGM that was dedicated to the creative industry.
He said with a high population of youths, most of whom are unemployed; the creative industry holds great potential for Africa because it’s a limitless and renewable resource capable of creating wealth and employment.
The Minister said the continental bank has floated a $500 million Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Fund designed to boost the African creative industry and the media, including digital innovators and experts, in fashion, film, and music.
He said for the creative industry to thrive, governments on the continent should explore avenues for long-term grants, capacity building, and provision of infrastructure, adding: ”You cannot grow the creative industry with debt.”
Alhaji Mohammed also said all the available instruments at the moment cannot grow the creative industry, and that what is needed is ‘patient money.
”What we need is for venture capital firms to invest more in the creative industry. This is because out of the $1 billion venture capital investment in Nigeria in 2021, just 1 percent went to the creative industry,” he said.
The Minister said with a population of about 52 million young people (between the ages of 18 and 35), who are hugely talented, the digital revolution provides internet access for about 104 million people and also with about 33 million Social Media users, Nigeria’s creative industry is like a goldmine and, when properly harnessed, would serve as the country’s new oil.
He expressed delight that Nigeria is far ahead of some of its peers on the continent in appreciating the potential of the creative industry and making policies toward enhancing the contribution of the sector to economic growth.
“I am proud to say that when we were in Cairo, I was able to thump my chest and say that Nigeria is doing the right thing. One example I cited is the collaboration between the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria/Bankers’ Committee that will bring a brand new National Theatre, which will also have four hubs for music, ICT, fashion, and film.
“We are actually creating a creative and entertainment center, which is going to employ many people and stop capital flight because you can now do the post-production for your film and music right here in Nigeria,” the Minister said.
Alhaji Mohammed, who also mentioned the floating of the $50 million creative industry Financial Initiative by the Central Bank, promised to engage the apex bank to ensure that the fund is accessible to the creative industry players.
He also harped on the need to improve on the collation, analysis, and interpretation of data on the contribution of the creative sector to the GDP so that policymakers, development partners, and other experts can make a case for favourable policies and funding for the industry.
