Ambode woos creative industry with N25b job fund

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday called on stakeholders in the creative industry to key into the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund set up by his administration, considering the fact that Lagos had been the cornerstone for the promotion of arts, culture and entertainment.

The governor, who spoke while receiving a delegation from the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) led by Head of Culture, African Union Commission, Angela Martins and the president, Mike Dada, stated that the vision of the state was to continually use arts, entertainment, culture and sports to promote excellence.

He also said that his administration would continue to support and promote African artistes.

“I want to thank the African Union (AU) and the organisers of AFRIMA) for finding it worthy to once again pick Lagos as the host city. We are very glad that the state has become more or less the cornerstone for driving African arts and culture.

“I must say that even though this is the third time that Lagos is hosting it, but this is the very first time that the state government will be practically involved and that goes to show that there is a convergence of vision between what the AU stands for and what this particular administration stands for also.

“We are big promoters of our culture. We believe so much in heritage, we believe also that the creative part of the African identity is yet to be tapped and obviously, we need to intervene in some of the things that are being done individually to be able to put things together so that we can together drive the African identity,” Ambode said.

Martins commended the governor for his passion in developing and promoting arts and culture on the continent.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said the hosting right further attests to the commitment of the current administration in the state to promote culture, arts and tourism.

Other members of the delegation include Innocent Idibia (Tu Face), DJ Jimmy Jatt, Seyi Shay, Praise, Simi, Olisa Adibua, Tee Mac among others.