Creative industry stakeholders in Anambra State have called for increased access to funding, improved welfare, stronger protection of professional rights and greater opportunities for practitioners across the sector.
The stakeholders, under the Concerned Creative Artists and Entertainers Initiative for Tinubu (CCAA4 Tinubu), an affiliate of the Tinubu Again Movement (TAM), also expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The convener of CCAA4 Tinubu, Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas, MON, made the call during the Anambra State chapter’s Nationwide Creative Sensitisation and Mobilisation Programme, where he urged creatives to critically assess government policies and ensure that their interests were adequately represented.
Rollas recalled his meeting with Tinubu in 2022, during which the President expressed his intention to establish a dedicated ministry for the creative industry and transform the National Theatre into a world-class facility.
He described the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy and the renovation of the National Theatre, now known as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, as significant developments worthy of recognition.
He also highlighted the appointment of experienced industry practitioners to leadership positions in cultural and creative institutions, alongside government initiatives designed to improve access to finance, skills development, innovation and intellectual property monetisation.
However, Rollas stressed that such interventions must translate into tangible benefits for ordinary practitioners, noting that policy announcements and appointments would have limited impact without effective implementation and accountability.
He urged creatives to demand clear answers on the accessibility of government programmes, protection of intellectual property, availability of creative infrastructure beyond Abuja and Lagos, and the welfare of industry professionals.
The convener called for increased access to financing, social protection, skills development and distribution opportunities, while advocating the active involvement of professional guilds and associations in policy implementation.
He challenged Anambra State to position itself to benefit from federal creative economy programmes by developing creative hubs and providing opportunities for young talents to build sustainable livelihoods.
Rollas commended participants for attending the programme and encouraged them to remain committed to the initiative’s mobilisation efforts in support of Tinubu’s re-election.
He described the creative sector as more than entertainment, emphasising its potential to generate employment, drive economic growth, preserve cultural identity and strengthen Nigeria’s international influence.
He urged participants to remain united, engage constructively with government and ensure that their demands were clearly communicated to relevant authorities.
In her remarks, the Anambra State Coordinator of CCAA4 Tinubu, Princess Bibiana Nnankwo, appreciated participants for attending the gathering and reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that the concerns of creative professionals received adequate attention.
She said artists, entertainers and other practitioners deserved recognition and proper representation in decisions affecting their work, welfare and future, urging members to remain actively involved in the initiative and help strengthen its presence across the state.
Nnankwo also urged local government and ward coordinators to intensify grassroots mobilisation by reaching out to creative professionals in their communities and working towards securing Tinubu’s return to office.
She charged them to demonstrate commitment, improve coordination and sustain engagement with members in their respective areas as the initiative pursues its political objectives.
