Duke, Akpata, others call for policy, infrastructure for creative industry

Stakeholders in the nation’s creative industry, yesterday, called on Edo State government to invest in theatres and incubation centres for creative people and put in place the right policies to drive its prestigious art and craft sector.

Leading discussions during the session on “Edo Creative Industry” at the Alaghodaro Investment Summit in Benin City, former Governor of
Cross River State, Donald Duke, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, for creating a separate session for creative industry, in his effort to rebrand the sector in the state.

He said: “For the creative industry to thrive, you need to know your strength and weaknesses. Edo State is the best-located state in Nigeria. No state is as endowed as Edo State and not even my state, Cross River, is as endowed in art and craft.”

He recommended that, as the gateway state to the South-south, Southeast, Southwest and the Northern part of the country, Edo State should put in the place structures for harnessing the socio-economic gains accruable from tourism activities in the state.

He urged Edo artistes to embrace modern technology to upgrade their processes.

Olumide Akpata, Partner, Templars, enumerated challenges facing the creative industry as lack of policies, infrastructure and access to funding. He called for a synergy between government and private practitioners to tackle them.