How Buhari govt is growing entertainment, by Osinbajo

• Ministry partners studios to train 1,000 youths

I Nrecognition of the strategic importance of the entertainment and creative sector in growing the Nigerian economy, the ( Muhammadu) Buhari administration has, in the past few years, introduced several initiatives to harness the abundant potentials in the country, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He made the disclosure at the weekend in a message delivered at the opening of the Ogidi Studios – a Lagos- based world- class creative complex – hosting recording, film production, animation and writing studios, owned by the Temple Company.

The Vice President said: “Last year, the Federal Government handed over the control of the National Theatre to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee. The Bankers’ Committee has committed to an investment of N25 billion as initial funding for the development of the Nigeria Creative Centre at the National Theatre, Lagos.

“The Bank of Industry in collaboration with the National Council for Arts and Culture also has a N300 million loan package for the creative sector. The package provides the funds to the sector at singledigit interest rates with a tenor of four to five years.”

Celebrating Burnaboy and Wizkid on their Grammy Awards, he stated that the environment had been prepared for Nigeria to produce more creative talents. S IMILARLY, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is to partner Ogidi Studios for the training of 1000 youths in the music production segment value chain of the creative industry.

The minister, Sunday Dare, stated this at the commissioning of the facility in Lagos at the weekend, noting that it was part of the ministry’s commitment to equipping the youth with skills that can set them up as entrepreneurs and contributors to Nigeria’s economic growth.