Ali Baba, Silva, Ude are entertainment reps for FG/TEF partnership

Ace comedian, Ali Baba and veteran actress, Joke Silva as well as Founder/CEO of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude were appointed by the Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as representatives from the entertainment industry who will join the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) team on the best way to engage stakeholders […]

Ace comedian, Ali Baba and veteran actress, Joke Silva as well as Founder/CEO of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude were appointed by the Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as representatives from the entertainment industry who will join the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) team on the best way to engage stakeholders on the actualization of the ministry’s partnership with the Foundation.
The trio, who have been identified as leaders of thoughts and independent promoters of the entertainment sector, are to work closely with the Foundation towards a wider parley, and produce a blue print on the structural support and policies needed for the growth of the creative sector.
The appointment is part of the public/private partnership initiatives of the Federal Government in an attempt to restructure the creative non-oil sector into a more formal economic spinner.
Mohammed said the partnership with TEF will help to reposition the creative industries in Nigeria.
The Minister said: “The MoU contained details of how we will work together to execute our partnership. More specifically, the areas of collaboration will include the creation of an enabling business environment for the creative industries with such incentives as easy access to finance; the structuring of the creative industries to enable it generate independent revenues locally and also boost exports to increase Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings; and comprehensive statistics about the creative industries, including its size and projections, to guide potential local and foreign investors.”
He also said Nigeria currently has creative industries but no creative economy; and so, the partnership will “leverage the experience of the private sector to help the creative industries retain the commercial opportunity and the financial benefits.”
Also speaking at the event, CEO of TEF, Parminder Vir, OBE, said the future of the creative industry in Nigeria is bright.
“Nigeria has an abundance of creative excellence, talent and cultural IP in film, television, music, fashion, ICT, performing arts and this partnership is designed to support the growth of this sector for leading businesses, facilities, entrepreneurs and institutions engaged in the fast growing sector,” she said.