The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to increase funds for the arts and liberalise the process of its acquisition if elected as president in 2023.

Atiku made the vow during a special roundtable discussion with Nigeria’s creative cultural and innovative industry stakeholders in Lagos on Saturday.

The PDP presidential flag-bearer said the creative industry was a vital industry capable of immense wealth creation and generating huge employment opportunities, adding that such an industry should not be toyed with as it had been identified as second most important sector after agriculture.

“I commend the presentations so far, I understand your challenges which I am also facing because I own a television and radio station, I face the same problem of access to water and electricity as well as bad roads, so I want you to regard me as one of you.

“The way forward is to increase funds for the arts and liberalise the process of acquiring that fund, if you give me the opportunity, I will do it because it is essential.

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“I reject direct CBN intervention and encourage the private sector to be part of this, government cannot develop all the fund needed.

“I look forward to a close collaboration with you on how we can develop the sector and exploit the potential, it is a multi-billion income creating sector.

“If we work together, we can make it, I look forward to another meeting before the elections to agree on some modalities on how things will be done,” Atiku said.

The former Vice President further commended the patriotic zeal of the private practitioners in the creative sector in the face of numerous obstacles trying to hinder their progress.

Also speaking at the event, the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, said all requests made by the practitioners in the creative sector would be properly articulated as promised by Atiku.

Okowa stated that the newly built Film Village in Asaba, Delta State would be launched by December, saying there were plans to ensure that practitioners in the creative industry run it, as government would not be in the best position to do that.

He urged Nigerians to vote for the PDP during the forthcoming 2023 general election, saying: “There would be a new Nigeria if we work together to defend our land and take pride in it.

“We can make Nigeria work again through collaboration with the aim to rebuild the foundation.”

On his part, a Talent Manager and Music Executive, Efe Omorogbe, said the major challenge confronting the music industry were piracy and Nigerians’ unwillingness to pay music royalties.

He said less than 10 per cent of music consumers paid royalties which was not encouraging.

Omorogbe noted that it was high time politics and governance were balanced while the right people were engaged in the leadership positions in the creative space.