Entertainment
GM Seeks More Investment In Entertainment Industry
The Federal Government has been called upon to invest more in the Nigerian entertainment industry to create more job opportunities.
The General Manager, Tambari Theatre Group, Mr Ibrahim Mallami, made the call when he was speaking at the Tambari Theatre Weekend Carnival organised by the group in Abuja.
According to him, the Federal Government should foster the growth of the industry by investing in it.
Mallami said that the Nigerian entertainment industry was economically viable but its potential had remained untapped.
He commended the government for the role it had played in funding the industry, adding that more needed to be done in the area of investment.
“India depends fully on entertainment industry and is making more money which helped its economy to develop.
“In the 70s, Nigeria was helping India with foods because Indians were just like refugees but they are stronger today.
“During this period, we have the groundnut pyramids and cotton which made the Nigerian economy to grow but the reverse is the case now as we are concentrating more on oil.
“If we can depend on the entertainment industry, it will help bring in money more than oil that we are depending on today.’’
Mallami stressed that the government had a vital role to play in making the entertainment industry economically viable and attractive.
He called on promoters to assist the young talents that were desperately in need of the right channel through which they could showcase their works.
“We are here to showcase the talented Nigerian youths that are desperately looking for promoters but don’t know how to start up.
“What we are here to do is to help secure these young talents as well as our culture.
“We therefore call on promoters to assist these youths,’’ Mallami said.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.