‘I’ll increase funds for creative industry’ — Atiku meets stakeholders

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says if elected president, he will increase funds for the creative industry.

The former vice-president spoke at a roundtable discussion with Nigeria’s creative cultural and innovative industry stakeholders on Saturday in Lagos.

Atiku said he would reject the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the creative industry and encourage private-public financial partnerships for the industry. 

“I commend the presentations so far, I understand your challenges which I am also facing because I own a television and radio station, I face the same problem of access to water and electricity as well as bad roads, so I want you to regard me as one of you,” he said.

“The way forward is to increase funds for the arts and liberalise the process of acquiring that fund, if you give me the opportunity, I will do it because it is essential.

“I reject direct CBN intervention and encourage the private sector to be part of this, government cannot develop all the funds needed. I look forward to a close collaboration with you on how we can develop the sector and exploit its potential, it is a multi-billion income-creating sector.

“If we work together, we can make it, I look forward to another meeting before the elections to agree on some modalities on how things will be done.”

Speaking at the event, Ifeanyi Okowa, the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, said support from the industry’s players will go a long way in the 2023 presidential election.

“There would be a new Nigeria if we work together to defend our land and take pride in it. We can make Nigeria work again through collaboration with the aim to rebuild the foundation,” he said.