Lagos Assures Stakeholders To Support Creative Industry

Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf

LAGOS State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf has assured stakeholders in the creative industry of government’s support in enhancing their arts, while also boosting the state’s tourism potential.

Akinbile-Yusuf spoke yetsterday at Alausa, Ikeja, during a meeting with stakeholders in the creative industry. The stakeholders comprised those in the film, arts and entertainment sectors.

According to her, the meeting was imperative to develop a coordinated relationship with the practitioners, whom, she said, were critical in boosting the state’s image and by extension its tourism potential.

She said: “The creative and entertainment industry is critical in the tourism sector. It is a sector that can rebrand and market Lagos to the outside world and project the government’s policies, plans and programmes as enshrined in the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of the current administration.

The government needs this sector as much as it needs the government. It is a win-win situation for the two parties.”

The commissioner noted that the need for the private sector to take ownership and invest in tourism development cannot be overemphasised, hence the need to share ideas on how to move the sector forward with one of the key stakeholders in the sector.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture Solomon Bonu said the government would be ready to implement some of the recommendations reached during the meeting.

He urged film makers to change some of the negative narratives being screened in their films.

Participants at the meeting expressed satisfaction about the outcome of the deliberations, saying they were determined to support the government to boost the state’s image.

They included members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Theatre Hand Motion Picture Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN).

©The Nation