The
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has reassured
the Artists’ Village community at the National Theatre, Lagos, that
the government has not abandoned them.
The
Minister, who stated this on Monday in Lagos at a meeting with the
representatives of the Artists' Village, restated the government's
commitment to compensate those whose studios and artifacts were
destroyed during the demolition of illegal structures and shanties at
the National Theatre, Lagos, in January this year.
“I
have just come here to let you know that we have not abandoned you. We
promised we are going to compensate you but you also know that the wheel
of government grinds slowly.
''I
think it’s enough to convince you that we mean well. So it’s not
correct to say that the government has abandoned the Artists’ Village as
I read in the newspapers recently,” he said.
Alhaji
Mohammed appealed to the artists to reciprocate government's gesture
and goodwill by constructively engaging it (government) instead of
confrontation, which will not help their cause in anyway.
“It
appears that some of us have not switched our mode from analogue to
digital. We still believe in the politics of confrontation rather than
politics of engagement. We still believe in us against them. I came to
this office with no baggage at all; I have no prejudice or bias. I came
to this office with the single-mindedness of advancing culture, tourism
and arts,” he said.
The
Minister stressed the need for synergy between the ministry and the
Artists in order to advance the creative sector, saying anything less
than that will be detrimental to the industry.
He
described the Artists’ Village as a critical component of the
entertainment and creativity industry, saying his ministry has signed
Memoranda of Understanding with various local and international
organizations for capacity building and scholarship for the Artists.
“The
Artists Village is there to stay. I have said it loud and clear. I have
not taken any step to the contrary. Whatever I have done, everywhere I
have gone, is to promote the cause of the cultural and creativity
industry,” he said.
In
his remarks, the representative of the Artists, Mr Tope Babayemi,
commended the minister for his passion towards the development of arts
and culture in the country and his commitment to finding an amicable
resolution of the challenges confronting the resident artists.
“I
wish to thank you for your efforts since this happened and indeed since
you assumed office as the Honourable Minister of Information and
Culture. I have always maintained in the media and other interviews that
you, to date, have been the most responsive minister we have had in
this sector and I speak with some degree of authority having spent about
35 years in the industry,” he said.
Mr Babayemi
pledged to constantly engage the Ministry in dialogue with a view to
evolving a vibrant creative economy in the country.
Segun Adeyemi
SA to Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Lagos
Aug. 23rd 2016
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