Executive Director of National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas in this artful piece addresses the concerns of head of guilds and associations within the Nigerian film industry, over the recently named Covid-19 Creative Industry advisory Committee to assess the impact of the pandemic on the industry.
Read full text of his address.
Dear Colleagues,
Having read the Press Release by a consortium of guilds and associations in the Nigeria film industry, veiling a direct response to the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at drawing sustainability for the creative industry in Nigeria, through the intervention of a committee set up to that effect, may I seek your indulgence to join the conversation and redress some concerns on the divergent views being expressed across different quarters, especially as it relates to the involvement of guild heads in participating or nominating the membership of the committee.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the nation’s economy to some existential threats, vis-à-vis the mainstream sectors contributing hugely to her economic base and bridging the employment gap, with the Nigerian film industry taking a pivotal role as appropriately captured in the press statement. The Honourable Minister, proactively so, decided to set up the committee in advisory capacity to mitigate the effects of the pandemic in the creative industry. We all understand how large the creative industry is, and it is expedient to incorporate its sectoral arms in whatever decision, policy making and intervention efforts of the government.
Henceforth, the need to set up such membership composition of the committee with capable hands who have soared far and beyond in their respective sectors of the wider entertainment and creative industry. I believe this decision would not have been exclusive of the contributions and support of industry players.
I understand your concerns on the need to consult guild heads, but we must not also fail to understand that the creative industry transcends the film and music sectoral arms, and there is need to widen the net needed to accommodate its tentacles. However, without an iota of doubt, I believe the Honourable Minister has received our concerns and would act in good faith in the future.
May I therefore request that we support the committee to see to its success for our collective good. Perhaps, in the spirit of oneness that we have shared as an industry, the guild and association heads can form a sub-committee to make representation to the main committee or directly to the Honourable Minister on the objectives of the committee. This will go a long way in viewing issues from a wider prism to enrich resolutions at the end of the day. We cannot afford to let our past efforts slip away by our grievances.
I trust we are holding up in this challenging period even as I am optimistic that government efforts in containing the Corona virus disease will yield positive outcomes within ample time.
Thank you.
Alhaji Adedayo Thomas
Executive Director/CEO
National Film and Video Censors Board
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