Today at 1:01 PM
Address by the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, at His First Meeting With Heads of Parastatals Under Culture
and Tourism in Abuja On Thursday, Nov. 19th 2015
Mohammed, at His First Meeting With Heads of Parastatals Under Culture
and Tourism in Abuja On Thursday, Nov. 19th 2015
PROTOCOL
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this gathering,
which marks the first time we are meeting since I assumed duties in
this Ministry. I have just held a similar meeting with your colleagues
under the old Ministry of Information at the Radio House.
which marks the first time we are meeting since I assumed duties in
this Ministry. I have just held a similar meeting with your colleagues
under the old Ministry of Information at the Radio House.
2 Without mincing words, the Parastatals under the old Culture and
Tourism Ministry, which are now under the new Ministry of Information
and Culture, are suffering a crisis of leadership. There are square
pegs in round holes at the leadership cadre of some of the Parastatals.
Sometimes where academicians are required, administrators are holding
sway.
Tourism Ministry, which are now under the new Ministry of Information
and Culture, are suffering a crisis of leadership. There are square
pegs in round holes at the leadership cadre of some of the Parastatals.
Sometimes where academicians are required, administrators are holding
sway.
3 There is a critical lack of understanding of the mandate of the
various Parastatals by some of the heads, and where they understand the
mandate, there is a serious lack of capacity. The implication is that
those heading these Parastatals simply invent their own agenda sometimes and
impose such on us, with devastating consequences. That explains why
most of the Parastatals are lying comatose.
various Parastatals by some of the heads, and where they understand the
mandate, there is a serious lack of capacity. The implication is that
those heading these Parastatals simply invent their own agenda sometimes and
impose such on us, with devastating consequences. That explains why
most of the Parastatals are lying comatose.
4 But for a critical lack of imagination, the National Council for
Arts and Culture (NCAC) would have just worked to encourage each of
the 36 states to declare 10 cities each as cultural cities. Add five
cities within the Federal Capital Territory and you will have a total
of 365 cultural cities. Imagine cultural activities in one cultural
city daily, and you will have such activities for 365 days, all year
round! This will improve the economy and lead to a reduction in crimes.
Arts and Culture (NCAC) would have just worked to encourage each of
the 36 states to declare 10 cities each as cultural cities. Add five
cities within the Federal Capital Territory and you will have a total
of 365 cultural cities. Imagine cultural activities in one cultural
city daily, and you will have such activities for 365 days, all year
round! This will improve the economy and lead to a reduction in crimes.
5 The National Troupe of Nigeria for example could borrow a leaf from its
counterparts in Uganda and Kenya. In those countries, their National
Troupes perform for the public every two hours. And it is a regular
fixture to have long queues outside the performance venues. Just
imagine the kind of money these National Troupes in Kenya and Uganda
will be making. Not only will they be self-sufficient, they will have
enough money for other things.
counterparts in Uganda and Kenya. In those countries, their National
Troupes perform for the public every two hours. And it is a regular
fixture to have long queues outside the performance venues. Just
imagine the kind of money these National Troupes in Kenya and Uganda
will be making. Not only will they be self-sufficient, they will have
enough money for other things.
6 Let's look at another example: The National Theatre. This
magnificent and historic edifice is mostly lying fallow all year
round. Why can't the management make it available for the use of the
creative industry, like Nollywood and others? Even the movies that
used to be shown in halls within the building have either dwindled or
stopped altogether. No wonder a past administration almost succeeded
in selling it off. A less magnificent and less historic building
elsewhere within or outside Africa is a money spinner. Yet, all we
hear is that there is no money to do this and no money to do that.
magnificent and historic edifice is mostly lying fallow all year
round. Why can't the management make it available for the use of the
creative industry, like Nollywood and others? Even the movies that
used to be shown in halls within the building have either dwindled or
stopped altogether. No wonder a past administration almost succeeded
in selling it off. A less magnificent and less historic building
elsewhere within or outside Africa is a money spinner. Yet, all we
hear is that there is no money to do this and no money to do that.
7 Or is it the case of the National Tourism Development
Corporation (NTDC), which has the mandate to develop, market and
manage tourist sites. How successful have they been in executing
their mandate?
Corporation (NTDC), which has the mandate to develop, market and
manage tourist sites. How successful have they been in executing
their mandate?
8 The law that established the National Commission for Museum and
Monuments (NCMM) mandates it to establish and manage national museums.
What have they been doing? What is their scorecard.
Monuments (NCMM) mandates it to establish and manage national museums.
What have they been doing? What is their scorecard.
9 Take the fact that Nigeria has only two UNESCO World Heritage
Sites - Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and the Sukur Cultural Landscape in
Adamawa, when the country boasts of numerous sites that are of special
cultural or physical significance to qualify them for listing as
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even the Osogbo is in danger of losing
its designation. By way of comparison, Ethiopia has nine UNESCO World
Tourist Sites, Kenya six, Libya five, Mali four and Morocco nine!
Sites - Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and the Sukur Cultural Landscape in
Adamawa, when the country boasts of numerous sites that are of special
cultural or physical significance to qualify them for listing as
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even the Osogbo is in danger of losing
its designation. By way of comparison, Ethiopia has nine UNESCO World
Tourist Sites, Kenya six, Libya five, Mali four and Morocco nine!
10 Ladies and gentlemen, you all are sitting on a gold mine, but
you have either refused to realize this, simply feigning ignorance or
totally lacking the capacity to mine the gold. It can no longer be
business as usual. Stop feeling second class, snap out of your complex
and mine your gold. Culture drives tourism, and both are good for
creating jobs reducing crime and diversifying the economy, which are
three of the cardinal programmes of the Buhari Administration.
you have either refused to realize this, simply feigning ignorance or
totally lacking the capacity to mine the gold. It can no longer be
business as usual. Stop feeling second class, snap out of your complex
and mine your gold. Culture drives tourism, and both are good for
creating jobs reducing crime and diversifying the economy, which are
three of the cardinal programmes of the Buhari Administration.
11 It is important to state here that Information and Culture is a key vehicle
for the massive national reorientation campaign which we are planning to
launch soon as part of efforts to drive the change agenda. Culture is particularly
important in this regard. We need the National Commission for Museums and
Monuments, the National Council for Arts and Culture, the National Gallery of Arts,
the National Institute for Cultural Orientation and of course the National Orientation
Agency to be part of this campaign, just like we need the film corporation as well as
the film and video censor board.
for the massive national reorientation campaign which we are planning to
launch soon as part of efforts to drive the change agenda. Culture is particularly
important in this regard. We need the National Commission for Museums and
Monuments, the National Council for Arts and Culture, the National Gallery of Arts,
the National Institute for Cultural Orientation and of course the National Orientation
Agency to be part of this campaign, just like we need the film corporation as well as
the film and video censor board.
12 We will give the necessary leadership to ensure that these parastatals realize their
potentials for the benefit of Nigerians. I encourage you to think out of the box to bring
about the much needed change in your various organizations.
potentials for the benefit of Nigerians. I encourage you to think out of the box to bring
about the much needed change in your various organizations.
13 I thank you for listening
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