The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described as a ‘game changer’ the ongoing photo exhibition of one of the daughters of President Buhari, Hanan Buhari, in Abuja.
In a statement released by his special assistant, Segun Adeyemi, Lai Mohammed who attended the opening of the exhibition yesterday, said Hanan’s uncommon passion for photography will encourage more young people to showcase their creativity.
“This exhibition is a game changer. A game changer in the sense that it is going to change the perception of our people towards the Creative Industry. I am using the word Creative Industry in a very elastic manner to include film, music, photography, interior decoration, architecture and publishing. The truth of the matter is that this is the future of Nigeria.
In my generation, our parents wanted us to be lawyers, doctors, engineers and accountants. It was very unusual in those days to see a parent that will encourage his son or daughter to take to the Creative Industry. This is no longer the case. Regardless of background, gender, or education, the new and next generation are totally consumed by this Creative sector.”
Alhaji Mohammed said the work of Hanan would change the perception of people towards the Creative Industry, which is no longer for drop-outs and the less-privileged in the society, but a sector for the highly talented.
“What we are witnessing today is an endorsement from the highest quarter that the Creative Industry is that area of our economy, which we have not really paid enough attention to” he said. The Minister said the present administration has demonstrated beyond doubt that it is committed to moving the Creative Industry from the back burner to the front burner of the economy through various initiatives, including the granting of pioneer status to the sector, capacity building, and exploring creative approach to funding. He said the government’s target is to ensure that the Creative Industry contributes about 5% to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in the next few years, from its present contribution of 1.34%.
