FG to partner UNESCO, UNIDO in boosting creative industry

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum has expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to partner the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in order to boost the nation’s creative industry by creating an enabling environment for the industry to thrive.

The Minister made this known when she received a concept note on the development of cultural and creative industry from a joint delegation from UNESCO and UNIDO led by the Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja.

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The Minister described creative industry as an area that should be explored for economic growth, foreign direct investment as well as exporting of Made in Nigeria Products.

Amb. Katagum stated that “These are the kinds of thing the creative industry does, not only photo portrait but fashion, music, all these things that are artistic, practically created. But you need to also create an enabling environment for this industry to thrive. We see in a lot of other countries how they create a type of hobby for them to sit down, teach them how to experiment, exchange ideas, basically with government’s support in order to enable them thrive. I think this is an important area and it is an area that helps in the growth of the economy, it brings in a lot of foreign direct investments, to enable people export Made in Nigeria Products.”

She said that the federal government would continue to guarantee policies, programmes and initiatives that will attract and create enabling environment for investments to thrive and create economic value.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Nasir Sani- Gwarzoi, said the economic growth and development being made by   developed countries were made possible by artisans, saying that, “It’s artisans that lead development in developed countries; here we are promoting only the formal sector. The concept note will open up a new area of investment for us” Gwarzo stated.

In his earlier remarks, the leader of the joint delegation, the Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, Ydo Yao said the purpose of their visit was to present a concept note on cultural and creative industry to the Ministry in order to have its feedback on the best way to move the industry forward thereby creating job opportunities for women and unemployed youth not only in Nigeria but Africa at large.

According to him, “UNESCO and UNIDO decided to come together to promote  cultural and creative arts in the country, when you look at  creativity  and the youth  in Africa, it is sad that we are not exploiting it enough  for  job creation in Africa”, the regional director stated.