Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria’s creative sector is one of the most vibrant in the world.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the vice president received on a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa, a Kannywood delegation.
Kannywood is the Hausa-language film industry.
The delegation, made up of notable artists, musicians, entertainers and creatives from the Northern parts of the country, commended the administration while also tabling their requests to further spur their industry.
While receiving the delegation, Osinbajo said that a country’s most important resource was its human resources.
He said that Nigeria must place a premium on its human resources because its talents were the country’s biggest export and significant investment.
Osinbajo said he had encountered the works of some of members of the delegation such as veteran Kannywood actor, Rabiu Rikadawa, among others.
“ I think one of the best things that our country has is talent, very solid talent; sometimes we make the mistake of not exhibiting our talents enough, not showing off our talents enough and it’s a big mistake because this is our best resource.
“When you look at our country, here is a fantastic country, with talents from every corner, but it can also be a place where people are just fighting, quarrelling over nothing; whereas we can bring, with the power of what you are doing, we can bring people together, we can bring all our people together.
“If you look at sports, if you look at entertainment, they can bring people together; and we must use it to bring our people together; we must use this talent to bring our people together.
“I like the film industry. I enjoy comedy, I enjoy songs in whatever language, and I’m sure there are so many who are interested.
“Even sometimes looking at a video when you don’t even speak the language, you look at a video you’ll laugh because you know that it is funny.’’
According to him, it does not matter the language in which a creative work is delivered, people will laugh so long as it is funny.
He said that the creative industry had a very strong weapon – drama, music, comedy as they were very powerful and could be used to do many things.
“The usefulness of your talent is not just for a small set of people, but it is for everybody because your contributions are very important.
“I am happy to see all of us who are here, people who are using their talents to invest as they can.
“We can do more, if we are supported, supported by government, supported by the private sector, but the question is how, how are we going to do that?
“ I want us to take this meeting seriously so that we can have a meeting to advance what we have been talking about,” he said.
The vice president said that despite the challenges of insecurity, insurgency, government would continue to explore ways to support the creative sector and improve other aspects of national life.
Osinbajo said he was looking forward to working with the group to resolve the challenges of the industry.
During the meeting, the Kannywood group delivered a special song filled with commendation for the work and accomplishments, while also chorusing that Osinbajo is together with “Baba Buhari.”
The song was led by Yusuf Haruna, also known as Baban Chinedu, a Muslim actor, who features as an Igbo character in films.
The Kannywood actors praised the leadership, dedication and wisdom of the Buhari-Osinbajo administration.
The leader of the delegation, Alhaji Rarara, recalled how some of the delegation members including himself, had been actively supporting the administration.
He also praised the government for many of its laudable programmes that had touched so many people but added that more needed to be done.
“We know both yourself and the president are committed to the people and are aligned; that is why we are still with you,” he said.
In his remarks on behalf of the group, Yakubu Mohammed, the spokesperson, added that the group had been supporting the administration and would continue to support the government.
Mohammed solicited for government’s assistance in helping to address some of the challenges the industry was facing especially in the area of financial enablement.
He said the activities of the group were funded solely by its members, but lamented that the industry was lagging behind.
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