DIRECTOR General, National Productivity Centre (NPC), Alhaji Kashim Akor has advocated more participation of the organised private sector in the promotion and sustenance of creative industry in Nigeria.
Dr Akor’s gave this assertion in his key note address paper presented and titled ‘The creative industry and productivity: Implications for National Economy’ at one day program Organized at the creative conversation with Tom Makolo Junior(TMJ), live events, in Lokoja on Friday.
According to the Director General, National Productivity Centre NPC, says the synergy and collaboration between the public and private sector will advance the course of creative ideas in Nigeria.
The Director-General maintained that more concerted efforts by stakeholders in the creative industry will promote not only productivity and self reliance,but advance Corporate Social Responsibility CSR, using that avenue to reach out to the general public.
He says aside promoting the economic activities of the country using creative industry as the mainstay,it will also galvanise other relevant bodies to key into the creative areas with renewed zeal.
‘In light of the above some of the things that can be done to spur greater productivity in the creative industry are:
More of private sector involvement in encouraging creativity among the young people via schemes that challenges creative thinking, excellence in inventions, innovations, problem-solving, and creative production. The banks, oil companies, manufacturing firms, extractive industries and other players in the private sector should take it as part of their corporate social responsibility to spur such action.’
He urged financial institutions and the Apex Bank to create an enabling environment that will encourage young creators into taken a vocation from the early stage in life.
‘Commercial banks, other financial institutions, and the Central Bank of Nigeria should come up with well-implementable programme that will elicit and harness and handsomely reward talents, potentials and special skills of young people. Special clubs, societies and groups should be formed in schools, especially primary and secondary, to cash them young.’
This feat can be achieved according to the Director General, through a well thought out regulatory policies and laws by govenrment agencies to guide against all forms of duplicationa
‘Relevant government agencies should be bold enough to enforce anti-theft or anti-piracy laws and arrest and prosecute those found culpable. Leniency should no longer be the case.’
Aside government policies,genuine public private participation could spur young Nigerians not only to be creative,but through career development and skills for public consumption.
‘Government or successful Nigerians could set up academies to admit bright and promising young people with the aim of developing their creative potentials honing their skills and bringing them to the limelight.’
The provision of social services like roads, electricity in all areas will be the bane of the survival of creative industry that will inturn contribute to the Gross Domestic Products GDP and the national economy.Dr Akor said
‘Government should work on having better infrastructure in the country, especially electricity stability, accessible roads in rural areas and urban satellite towns, etc.
It is hoped that the implementation of the above, among several other measures will stimulate the productivity of the creative industry for a substantial contribution to the national economy.’
He commended the singular efforts of the sole organiser,Mr Thompson Makolo Junior (TMJ),for taken the challenge,stating that this will go along way to encourage and attract more attention from relevant stakeholders.
