Minister Hails Wakaa The Musical, Urges Investors To Back Creative Industry

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has

described the stage musical extravaganza

Wakaa The Musical as one of the best in both depth and story line,

after watching the London Edition of the

show at the Shaw Theatre West End on Friday night.

”This production can be ranked high anywhere in the world. There is

no dull moment in the entire package,” the

Minister said in a statement issued in London on Sunday. ”I am proud

of the producer. I am proud of the entire

cast.”

He urged investors to support the Nigerian Creative Industry in order

to boost the sector

”We must find a way to promote the sector and I am using this

opportunity to appeal to the private sector to invest

heavily to give the sector the desired muscle, as this drama has

brought to the fore the quantum of potentials that

can be tapped,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

Earlier, at a panel discussion that preceded the show, the Minister

said the Federal Government is working hard to

turn the creative industry into a creative economy.

”This administration is diversifying the economy away from oil which,

for many years, has been the mainstay of our

economy. Among the sectors that have been identified as veritable

sources of revenue for the nation are the arts,

culture and tourism sectors. This is why we in the Ministry of

Information and Culture are working hard to move these

sectors from the margins to the mainstream, and ensure that the rural

poor, in particular, are factored into the sector’s

architecture,” he said

Alhaji Mohammed said the Ministry, working with local and

international partners like the Tony Elumelu Foundation and

the British Council, is paying special attention to the capacity

building of culture and tourism managers in a deliberate

effort to revive the nation’s creative arts, boost tourism and create

employment for Nigerians, particularly the rural dwellers.

Wakaa The Musical, which has been shown to great acclaim in Nigeria,

has become the first Nigerian-produced musical

to be performed at a London theatre.