By Vivian Onyebukwa
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has stressed the need for the government to erect sufficient purpose-built event centres, concert halls, and convention facilities in the country, saying that failure to invest in such areas would export jobs and revenue as well as hinder chance to create wealth opportunities for Nigerians.
He stated this at the I0th Pan African Music Fashion Runway (MFR) and Game Changer Africa Acknowledgement (GCCAA), awards which held in Lagos under the theme, ‘Reflections and future horizons: Leveraging collaborative and sustainability practices to enable and protect the future development of creative ecosystems.’
Mohammed, who is also the special advisor to the Secretary General UN World Tourism, described the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry as a multi-billion-dollar global sector.
He recalled that in 2016 alone, Nigeria hosted 1.9 million events, averaging 150,000 events monthly and 5,000 daily, yet still lacks sufficient purpose-built event centres, concert halls and convention facilities to support this booming market.
He said: “The MICE industry is a multi-billion-dollar global sector. Yet Nigeria, with it’s vast population and cultural diversity, has barely tapped into two percent of this market. Countries like Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa are far ahead in leveraging this industry for economic growth.
“Similarly, consider our globally celebrated music stars such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido and Tiwa Savage, who regularly perform to sold-out crowds in international arenas like London’s O2 Arena. These venues, often with capacities exceeding 20,000, highlight a glaring gap in our local infrastructure.’’
He commended the contributions of the music and fashion industries towards the nation’s economic development, noting that there were sectors within the creative industry that were yet to receive adequate recognition. These sectors, he said, included hospitality, events and tourism, writing, printing, and publishing,art, design, and photography and hair and beauty.
Also peaking, managing director of NMO Management Limited, the organisers of the Pan African Music Fashion Runway (MFR) and Game Changer Africa Acknowledgement (GCCAA) awards, Dr Ngozi Omambala, said that the annual event which attracts both local and international designers serves as a cultural platform which celebrates and showcases cultural heritage, Pan African fashion design and creative contemporary innovation.
According to Omambala, who is also the chairperson of the Creative and Entertainment Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Game Changer Acknowledgement award recognises the significant contribution trailblazers and pioneers have made in the development of the creative industry across the continent of Africa and beyond.
“Prolific and iconic pioneers in the creative industries are honoured and recognised as game changers within the African narrative,” Omambala said.
The event presented legendary and iconic designers, cutting edge Pan African fashion-fusing live music performances, with quality international runway models from across the continent.
The designers that showcased their works included O’Sanders, Oneney, Simeni, Modela, Madam Nike, TJB and Blackadudu.
A notable Nigerian comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, was one of the award recipients. He lauded the organisers of the event for their contribution towards the development of the creative and entertainment sector in the country.