…says sector can create 2.7m jobs next five years
Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Theater Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN) has called on the federal and state governments to invest heavily in the entertainment and creative industries to reduce the high rate of unemployment and tackle insecurity in the country.
The body noted that the government can leverage on the potentials in the industry to further diversify the nation’s economy rather than solely depending on oil.
The Global President of TAMPAN, Bolaji Amusan, otherwise known as Mr. Latin’ in the film industry, made this call at the weekend during a press conference held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to herald the association’s national conference tagged “EKO 2025”, with the theme “Maximizing the Potentials of Arts and Creativity”.
According to Amusan, no fewer than 4.3 million people are currently employed in the entertainment and creative sector in Nigeria and projected that an additional 2.7 million jobs could be created within the next five years, if the sector is given the needed attention by the government.
He added that through promotion of local talent, the industry in 2023 accounted for roughly N154 billion for Nigeria’s GDP.
While stressing that the government should give uninhibited support for the creative industry, citing London, America, and India as examples, Amusan said, “If you go to London, India and America, they are, I can call them grandfathers in film production and creative industry. Most of these people, perform arts free, and the government focuses so well on the development of the creative industry”
“The only way we can do that is to get that uninhibited support from the government”.
“In Nigeria, let’s take Ogun State, Lagos State, for example, we have just less than two to three film villages. If the government invested heavily in film villages and the equipment being used to produce films, it would reduce the stress and hardship being faced by the creative people to produce their products, produce their movies, and do a lot of things that will enhance their own life”.
“The creative industries, including film, music, fashion, visual arts, and digital media can contribute significantly to economic diversification, by promoting local talents and creative exports, these industries can generate income and create jobs.
“The creative sector currently employs about 4.2 million people in Nigeria. It has however been projected that the creative sector could create an additional 2.7 million jobs within the next 4–5 years if its potentials are properly annexed”, he added
“Previous diagnoses have identified our long dependence on oil economy as the bane of the slow growth and development of our nation. It is an over-statement therefore, to say that Nigeria’s dependency on oil exports has led to vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations and hindered the growth of other sectors”, the TAMPAN president submitted.