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‘Creative Industry Can Generate N1trn To Nation’s Economy’
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) says Nigeria’s creative industry is capable of contributing more than N1 trillion annually to the nation’s economy.
The Director-General of the commission, Mr Afam Ezekude, said this at the 2012 National Creativity Day Celebration in Abuja, last Thursday.
The celebration is an initiative of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to promote Africa’s potential in creative industries.
The Creative Africa Initiative was launched in April 2008 at the 12th session of UNCTAD in Accra.
The components of the industry include arts and crafts, music, dance, film, painting, advertising and fashion.
Represented by a Director at the commission, Mr Mike Akpa, the DG in a paper, said that the study on the potential of the industry was still ongoing.
He said preliminary findings indicated that the contributions of the creative industry to the nation’s economy could equal what was accruable in other big sectors annually if properly harnessed.
Ezekude gave a breakdown of the various sectors and their contributions to the industry, noting that they were currently being underutilised.
“We are in agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to ascertain the worth of the industry to our economy, but from our preliminary findings, the film sector can contribute N45 billion to the economy.
“The software sector can contribute N250 billion, publishing sector, N100 billion; music sector, N80 billion; broadcasting sector, N25 billion; advertising sector, N20 billion and ICT, textiles and jewelries, N100 billion.”
He said that the true state of the industry’s potential to the economy would be ascertained after the study must have been completed.
Ezekude, however, added that Nigeria would only begin to maximise its potential in the industry if an effective protection and regulatory framework was put in place to protect the creative works from unauthorised users.
He stressed the need for authorities to review existing laws to effectively safeguard the rights of creative work owners in the country.
The Director-General explained that the existence of over 15 replicating plants across the country underscored the need for an effective protection framework to be urgently put in place.
On steps taken by the commission to encourage creativity in the country, Ezekude said that the commission was working beyond its periodic anti-piracy raids.
He disclosed that the commission recently signed an agreement with ICT giant, Google, to encourage creativity in the industry.
Ezekude said that creative work owners would, by the agreement, begin to earn some remuneration for the use of their works.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
