Personality in Focus
Why Presidency Should Call Musawa to Order – The Stakeholders Perspective
By Adepetu John
A Yoruba adage says, “Bi a ba fi ogun odun pile were, ojo wo la fe bu ni je?” This means “If it takes one twenty years to prepare for madness, when will one start biting people?”
The essence of the proverb is for one to strike while the iron is still hot instead of waiting and planning endlessly.
More than a year after President Bola Tinubu appointed Ms Hanatu Musawa as the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, stakeholders have expressed concerns that nothing has been achieved in the sector beyond rhetorics and grandstanding.
They said the actions of the Minister, exemplified more by flippant promises than concrete action, show she may not be well equipped to bring the much needed transformation to the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Sector.
Over the past years, economic experts and public affairs commentators have stressed that, as Nigeria grapples with economic challenges and strives to diversify its economic mainstay from oil, the creative sector is a veritable option.
Therefore, in August 2023, when President Bola Tinubu created a stand-alone Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy (FMACCE), many Nigerians, especially industry players, saluted his courage.
They described the move as a genuine commitment to supporting the growth and development of the art, culture, and creative economy sector for national economic gains.
The creation of the ministry by President Tinubu was seen as a clear indication that he recognised the vital role that the sector can play in his “Renewed Hope Agenda”to secure national economic turn-around.
Tinubu’s vision is encapsulated in the 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda, and the Art, Culture and Creative sector is captured in point seven of the agenda, which is, “accelerating diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and Innovation.
In the agenda, the Tinubu administration promised to bolster up the youths by exploiting the immense potentials in the entertainment, culture, tourism and arts sectors, particularly for job creation.
The stakeholders, therefore, viewed the creation of the ministry as a genuine commitment to supporting the growth and development of the art, culture and creative economy sector for national economic gains through job creation.
They, however expressed disappointment at Minister Musawa’s endless rhetorics, as all she has done since she was appointed is to peddle promissory notes on the creation of two million jobs for the youths, without any known steps taken to actualise the promise.
Two months after she assumed office, the minister, while addressing newsmen, promised to create two million jobs and shape the creative and cultural landscape of the nation. Nothing was done after that to actualise the promise as the Minister simply went underground.
In April, 2024, at the management retreat of the ministry which held about five months after the briefing referenced above, the minister again announced her intention to create two million jobs, without saying how or making any effort to make it happen.
“We are trying to diversify from oil through the creative industry. It is possible if we can get the support of those who know the creative industry very well and care about what the ministry is doing. We are looking at how to use the talents Nigerians have to bring value to the country.
“Job creation is key and we want to create and contribute 2 million jobs by 2027. We want to increase the GDP of Nigeria by 100 billion dollars by 2030.
“It is doable. We are going to work round the clock to ensure we are able to do that,” she said.
Speeches, promises as usual, no action. Meanwhile, the sector remains where it is.
The latest instance of plenty talk and no action came on Sept. 12, at a roundtable for local and international investors in Lagos, where Musawa reportedly “unveiled plans to generate at least 100 billion dollars and create over two million jobs from Nigeria’s creative economy yearly”.
In her speech, she lamented that despite its huge potential, Nigeria’s creative industry currently contributes just 5 billion dollars to the economy, with its different sub-sectors at various stages of development.
Perplexed Industry players have berated the Minister for lack of capacity to carry out the agenda set by the Tinubu administration to use the new ministry to create employment for the nation’s teeming youths.
Friday Ogunyemi, a member of Screen Writers Association of Nigeria, said that the new ministry needed peculiar leadership, someone who has been there, an industry player who understands in practical terms the challenges and the way forward for the sector.
“The Nigeria film and music industries have been described as self-made sectors, with little or no government input in its trajectory over the years.
“Now that there is a specific ministry for it, the first step should be to engage the industry players by bringing them together to discuss what affects them directly.
“This is why an industry person; someone who has been in the system, who understands the peculiar needs of the sector, is needed urgently to head the ministry,” he said.
Mathias Gimba, a member of Actors Guild of Nigeria, said although the pioneer minister has shown passion in ensuring that there is a turn-around in the sector, her lack of proper understanding of the sector and contact with stakeholders has been glaring in the last one year.
“She will do well in other areas of the Tinubu administration, but a more versatile and industry-oriented person is needed to drive the new art and culture and creative industry ministry,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, an official of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), who asked for anonymity, said the much anticipated turn-around that the creative space needs to create jobs, engage youths and contribute meaningfully to the GDP required more than jejune political statements and seminars.
According to the official, Nigeria has comparative advantages in the creative sector, for economic development, and the industry should not be left in the hands of a novice.
The official noted that the sector’s contribution of just 1.2 per cent to the GDP in 2022 is an aberration, whereas other African countries with less potentials and comparative advantages are doing better.
It was therefore, the consensus of the stakeholders that President Tinubu should rejig the leadership of the sector with a view to maximizing its potentials.
They warned that the promises being glibly made by Minister Musawa – which she has not taken any steps to actuate – will become an albatross around the neck of the Administration in 2027!
Personality in Focus
Tinubu Hails FirstBank’s Immediately Past CEO, Adeduntan on Exceptional Service
By Eric Elezuo
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan as the bank holds a splendid Sendforth party on his behalf for a meritorious service.
The president’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
The statement reads in full:
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES DR ADEDUNTAN, AS FIRST BANK CELEBRATES EX-GROUP CEO
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Dr Adesola Adeduntan, the retired Group Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Nigeria Limited, for his exceptional service at Nigeria’s oldest bank.
In celebration of Adeduntan’s remarkable tenure, the 130-year-old First Bank will host a special send-off ceremony this weekend, expressing gratitude for his contributions over the past nine years.
President Tinubu commends him for steering the bank through transformative growth, which includes expanding customer accounts from 10 million to over 42 million and elevating Profit Before Tax from N10 billion in 2015 to an impressive N300 billion in 2023.
These milestones, the President said, reflected Adeduntan’s visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.
The President expresses his appreciation for Adeduntan’s willingness to serve the nation in various pivotal roles, including his contributions to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and other prominent institutions. His extensive expertise in the financial sector has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s economic landscape.
President Tinubu also lauds the bank’s solid internal management ethos, which is responsible for the seamless transition from Adeduntan to the current CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu.
President Tinubu wishes Dr Adeduntan continued success in all his future endeavours.
Personality in Focus
LG Boss Commends CG Goni for Inclusive, Community-Driven Conservation Efforts
The Conservator-General (CG) of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, has received commendation for his inclusive and community-driven efforts in protected area management in Nigeria, particularly at Gashaka Gumti National Park.
The commendation was contained in a letter written by the Executive Chairman of Serti-Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State, Honourable Umar Yusuf Allura Gari. The letter conveyed the appreciation of the people of the local government to the Conservator-General for appointing Deputy Conservator of Park (DCP) Jonah Moses, an indigene of the local government, as acting Conservator of Park for Hadejia Wetlands National Park.
Honourable Umar Gari further commended Dr. Goni for the transformative initiatives at Gashaka Gumti National Park under his leadership. These initiatives, according to him, led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa Nature Investors (ANI), which has enhanced the protection of the park, improved internal security, and positively impacted the lives of the local populace through various impactful interventions.
Dr. Goni’s relentless efforts to reposition the Service locally and internationally through strategic collaborations were credited for the park’s recent enlistment as a World Heritage Site by World Heritage Volunteers.
The Chairman expressed gratitude to the CG for honoring their late traditional leader, Lamdo of Gashaka, Alhaji (Dr) Hamman Gabdo Mohammed Sambo, by naming the Administrative Block of Gashaka Gumti National Park after him. This gesture, he said, will continue to endear the park and the entire Service to the Gashaka people.
The Executive Chairman acknowledged the CG’s consistent efforts in providing job opportunities to their youths, stating that they are indeed grateful for that. However, he appealed for more employment opportunities, especially in senior cadres, stressing that such gestures will bolster community involvement in the smooth running and management of conflicts with the Service.
In conclusion, the Executive Chairman assured the CG of his community’s unwavering support for the National Park Service’s efforts to achieve international standards in conservation and sustainable management of Nigerian parks.
Personality in Focus
Anastiasia’s Springs of Joy Launches, Storms Ogun, Lagos for Widow’s Welfare, Distributes Wholesome Palliatives
By Eric Elezuo
In furtherance of her activities geared towards affecting lives of the indigents, with special emphasis on widows, the Spring of Joy for Widows Foundation has once again spread its wings of kindness and passion to the widows of Nigeria. This was a follow-up to its earlier reach out conducted in May 2024 where over 250 widows were presented with food items in an event tagged Food Pantry and Medical Checkup for Widows.
In August 2024, the Founder of the Foundation, Mrs Anastiasia Daniel, in company of her husband, arrived Nigeria from their base in the United States of America, and stormed some nooks and crannies of the nation with bags of smiles and hope for widows following a well attended launch of the Foundation in Surulere, Lagos.
It would be recalled that earlier in the year, at a well organized event held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Christ Disciples Parish, Surulere, Lagos, which the Resident Pastor, Richard Umoren, graciously gave out, the Foundation released diverse and assorted food items to deserving widows, as well as conducted free medical checkups to ascertain the state of the health of the widows, using the best of medical personnels, drawn from the Christian Medical and Dental Association, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) chapter.
Kickstarting the avalanche of humanitarian efforts, Mrs Daniel and her team of Spring of Joy for Widows Foundation caregivers embarked on several impactful events to support widows in different parts of Nigeria, thereby furthering its mission of empowerment and care.
At a Food Pantry Event held at Ilogbo, Ogun State, the foundation conducted a food distribution event, where 133 widows were empowered.
According to Mrs Daniel, who consistently told her story of growing up with her widowed mother, each widow received essential food items, including rice, beans, garri, noodles and bags of sachet water.
“This initiative was aimed at addressing the immediate food needs of the widows and providing them with a sense of relief and support during these challenging times,” Mrs. Daniel said.
At the official launch of the Foundation, which was juxtaposed with a Fundraising ceremony in Surulere, Lagos, with about 100 guests in attendance, Mrs. Daniel assured stakeholders and guests of her Foundation’s readiness to spread good tidings to as many Nigerians in need as possible, maintaining that the day was specially designed to raise awareness about the foundation’s cause and generate financial support for its ongoing and future initiatives.
The event drew together notable television personalities, founders of other organizations, and influential individuals, giving it a high-profile status.
As a followup to the Launch, the Foundation undertook a Food Pantry Event at the Assemblies of God Church, Coker Orile, Lagos, where a remarkable 310 widows received free food items, ranging from rice, beans, garri, spaghetti, to bags of sachet water. Each widow present at the event received a generous helping of all the items. This event further extended the foundation’s reach, ensuring that more widows received the support they needed.
ABOUT SPRING OF JOY FOR WIDOWS FOUNDATION
The Spring of Joy for Widows Foundation is a non-profit organization established to empower and uplift widows by providing them with basic necessities, emotional support, and opportunities for a better future.
Through these empowerment events, the foundation aims to ease the burden of widowhood, provide food security, and foster a sense of community and belonging among widows.
According to the Founder, “Each initiative is a step towards achieving a long-term empowerment opportunity for widows, ensuring they have the resources and support to lead dignified lives.”
The Foundation is an NGO committed to making a profound difference in the lives of widows, addressing their unique challenges, and ensuring they lead lives of dignity, independence, and purpose.
It is further rooted in a deep sense of compassion, equality, and social justice, with the goal of creating a world where widows are not marginalized, but celebrated for their resilience and strength.
Mrs Daniel, a Nigerian citizen of Enugu extraction, is an embodiment of compassion, who has taken it upon herself to contribute to the upliftment of the indigent, using the widows as a starting point.
She strongly believe that the fact that a woman has lost has husband, does not mean that she has lost her purpose, self-will and destiny goal, maintaining that “Every widow is still destined for greatness no matter the circumstances.”