By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
SUNRISE NEWS, Lagos, Aug 19, 2020 The Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated the Implementation Committee of the Creative Industry Post COVID-19 Initiative.
Giving an inaugural speech, the minister reminded the 5-man Implementation Committee members, that the well researched report of the initiative committee was submitted to him in July this year and the next phase of that report is the full implementation of that same report.
The Minister commended the initiative committee for going beyond their call of duty to do a complete mapping of the creative industry like it has never been done before.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed charged the newly inaugurated Implementation Committee, that their terms of reference are to design an implementation plan on immediate and short term relief for the creative industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, design a policy framework for tax relief for various sectors in the creative industry and work out a detailed implementation plan for a long term intervention for the overall development of the creative industry in Nigeria.
He added that the development and growth of the creative industry which is the second biggest job creator after agriculture rest squarely on their shoulders.
Responding, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee for the Post COVID-19 Initiative on the Creative Industry, Otunba Segun Runsewe, thanked the Minister for giving them the opportunity to serve in the committee.
He said that this assignment has awaken the consciousness of the members to see what the creative industry can contribute to the economy of this country.
He added that in the United States of America, the creative industry contributes about 4% to the country’s GDP which is about 800billion dollars a year and this figure has been consistent for the past 6 years.
According to Otunba Runsewe, who is also the NCAC boss; the creative industry in Nigeria can do the same or even do better to Nigerian economy if properly managed.
Otunba Runsewe, promised the Minister of Information and Culture that his committee will do their best to deliver on their terms of reference, particularly on tax relief, adding that; the committee will come up with robust recommendations that will reflect his expectations as the head of the creative industry and to the development of the nation.
The committee was given six weeks to submit its report and have other members of the committee as Ali Baba, the Deputy Chairman and Joe Mutah as Secretary.
