MINISTER SEEKS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP IN DEVELOPING CREATIVE INDUSTRY

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
enjoined the private sector to partner with the government in the
current drive to turn the Creative Industry into a creative economy.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when the Nigeria
Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) unveiled Abubakar Adam Ibrahim as
the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2016.

“I am proud to say that one of the highlights of the Economic Recovery
Programme of this government is actually providing that enabling
environment through which we can transit from a creative industry to a
creative economy.

“I have always tried to encourage the private sector to take more
interest in the creative industry because the creative industry
naturally anywhere in the world is on a tripod. There is the
government, the private sector and there is the creative industry
itself. Unfortunately, we have failed to transit from a creative
industry to a creative economy precisely because there is no meeting
of minds between the private sector and the creative industry and I
think it is the government that can provide the bridge. For the
private sector to invest in the creative industry, there must be
adequate protection,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed emphasized that the nation’s greatest asset is not the
natural resources but the creative ability and resourcefulness of its
citizens, and commended the NLNG for appreciating this by instituting
and sustaining the Nigeria Prize for Literature.

He said literature is one area where Nigeria has made its mark on the
global scene, but noted sadly that piracy has remained a huge
challenge to intellectual property right in the country.

“The creative industry – of which literature is of course a part, the
music, film and other arts – I  think is one area where Nigeria a very
long time ago stamped its authority and prominence. We have had
world-class authors, like the Late Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka,
Gabriel Okara, but unfortunately we failed to adequately protect the
intellectual property of these very resourceful people.

“There is no reason why any author in Nigeria should die in penury or
poverty. I think it’s the failure to adequately protect this
intellectual property that has led us to the sorry state that we have
today,” the Minister said.

Alhaji Mohammed said having shown keen interest in literature, the
NLNG needs to move beyond awarding prize in literature to also join in
the fight against piracy.

“I want to please also enjoin the NLNG to do more than this. I think
they should join hands with the government in fighting piracy. Piracy
it not just about records or films, it’s also about books, fine art
and culture. We can join hands together and ensure that the
intellectual property of all artists are protected,” he said.

In his remarks the Managing Director of NLNG , Mr. Tony Attah, said
the Nigeria Prize for Literature remains one of the main Corporate
Social Responsibility Programmes of the company.