by Deji Abiodun
In a night that brought stars of screen, stage and music together, the All Progressives Congress (APC) hosted an evening to address the public on some of the most pressing issues facing the country and also to celebrate the entertainment industry and its successes. The well-attended event, called “An Evening for Nigeria with Buhari and Osinbajo”, took place at the upscale Intercontinental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos and was attended by some of Nollywood’s, Kannywood’s, and the music industry’s biggest celebrities.
General Muhammadu Buhari, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, celebrated the hard work and numerous achievements of the young, motivated, and vibrant community, and promised to support the thriving industry with policies that would create a conducive business environment that allowed all to be properly compensated for their intellectual property and skills.
Amaechi in his delivery said:
Entertainers deserve to be taken seriously, like every other segment of our economy required to restructure our country for greatness. The young creative people deserve to be taken seriously, not patronized or confused by woolly clichés and promises that will not be kept. It is time to plug corruption so that wealth can truly flow to strengthen the sector. We need to aggressively fight copyright infringements so people can make money from their legitimate earnings and not need to – as some of you call it – ‘hustle’, funds and investment from the sector must come through a viable interplay of market forces supported by a proactive government and not left to the whims of politicians who call people to sing and dance only for their amusement.
Good evening. I am delighted to once again have the opportunity to address you all.
One of the major drivers of this campaign is the energy and creativity of young people all over the country, young people hungry for change, some of whom are in this room tonight. They have put their resources, physical and mental, behind me, and taken it upon themselves to drum up support for my candidacy. They have taken it upon themselves to reintroduce me to their peers, dispelling myths and rumours about my person, and putting my past record in its proper context. They have found innovative ways to tell stories about this campaign and convince people of the need for the change.
A lot of the progress we have made is down to you all, in this room, and the millions beyond it. As I have gone from state to state, town hall to town hall, I am convinced every day that there is no Nigeria without you. Irrespective of the outcome, you have made an indelible mark in our quest for a nation we can all be proud of.
In your various occupations, especially in the media, you have an active role in remaking our country. As our world becomes ever so saturated in connectivity and connected devices, more and more opportunities present themselves for large numbers of Nigerians to be influenced at once. Such is the phenomenon of Nollywood, for example, that it has shaped a generation of Nigerians, and spread that influence far beyond our borders.
Beyond just entertaining people, Hollywood has been – and remains – a key strategic vehicle in the transmission of American values across the world, and now other countries have recently begun to project their own values as well. Since we aspire to a leadership role regionally and globally, Nigeria cannot be left behind in this. What is left is to raise the craft to global standards, and the government has a role in this, but not by way of handouts. Nollywood achieved what it achieved over the course of two decades without government intervention, growing on the ingenuity and relentlessness of a generation who became household names within and outside the country.
Now, a new generation of stars are taking their place in the hearts of a nation, as evidenced by Nigeria’s successful outing at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards last weekend. What the APC pledges is not token gestures or quotas designed to curry favour, but a strategic partnership with Nigeria’s entertainment industry that puts it on a sustainable path, projects the country in the best possible light, and gives the artists, producers, directors, writers, and other media professionals due reward for their labour.
This is part of a broader pledge and promise to Nigeria’s young people in all sectors. It is not about slogans that are quickly silenced by token appointments to the loudest voices. In the APC, we recognize that without giving young people real decision making responsibility, this country cannot make progress.
Tokenism and lip service can no longer be enough for our creative sectors and for new and expanding industries like entertainment, fashion and technology Actually, it should offend you. Scattershot invites to public forums and the wanton distribution of money to a select few cannot properly restructure this crucial sector for real growth, accelerated job creation and to create true wealth so that we don’t continue to have talents wasted by ill health or by misfortune.
Entertainers deserve to be taken seriously, like every other segment of our economy required to restructure our country for greatness. The young creative people deserve to be taken seriously, not patronized or confused by woolly clichés and promises that will not be kept. It is time to plug corruption so that wealth can truly flow to strenghten the sector. We need to aggressively fight copyright infringements so people can make money from their legitimate earnings and not need to – as some of you call it – ‘hustle’, funds and investment from the sector must come through a viable interplay of market forces supported by a proactive government and not left to the whims of politicians who call people to sing and dance only for their amusement.
You deserve a serious minded government that understands the serious work that you are doing. More than any other sector, those like the creatives industries powered by young people deserve meaningful and urgent change.
In fashion and technology, government policy can provide the platform for value to be created. A couple of weeks ago, the Lagos State Government signed an agreement to reduce right of way fees for broadband Internet infrastructure. This will free up more resources to provide cheaper and faster Internet access across the state and increase Internet penetration, enabling our young people to take part more fully in the Knowledge economy. It is just the latest example of how a forward thinking government can help spur innovation.
The majority of Nigerians are under 35, and whatever decisions we take will impact them the most. We are committed to removing every barrier to their success, so that they can finally succeed because of their country, and not in spite of it.
For too long, Nigeria has not done right by its young people, and if elected, I promise to repay the confidence you have placed in me, and do my utmost to make you proud of your country once again.
Thank you very much.
