Cross River State - Federal Government to Make Art a Major Revenue Earner

[CrossRiverState]

      The Federal Government says plans are been concretize to harness potentials that abound in the art and craft industry to reposition it as a major revenue earner to the country.

Minister of Cultural, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke who disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) Annual Distinguished Lecture with the theme "Imagination", in Calabar, yesterday contended that the effort is geared towards diversifying the economy of the nation and reposition the sector for optimal growth.

He maintained that the ministry was refocusing her activities towards contributing to government's effort at increasing the nation's foreign exchange earnings through the non-oil export, having understood the need to diversify by enhancing other viable means of revenue generation.

While acknowledging the giant strides recorded by President Goodluck Jonathan in his transformation agenda geared towards re-branding Nigeria, the Minister averred that the nation is poised more than ever to recover its glorious past, while accentuating the values that bind the people together.

He used the occasion to call on stakeholders in the industry to take advantage of the lectures which he noted was a veritable platform for edification of visual arts as well as educate the future leaders of the sector on the need to increase more avenues for economic resource generation through the work of art.

Director-General, National Gallery of Art, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, pointed that the11th lecture which is geared towards educating stakeholders as well as general public on the various aspects of Nigerian visual art was organized in keeping with the tradition and as part of the agency's core mandate to advance the course of knowledge in visual arts in particular as well as other topical issues of national discourse.

He reiterated the agency's to commit itself to their collective objective of ensuring that Nigerian visual art becomes a veritable and dependable tool for wealth creation, self-reliance, employment generation and huge foreign exchange earner in addition to oil.

In a concerted effort to actualize this mandate the DG said that in 2012 the NGA recorded a flurry of activities and expressed the desire to ensure that the effort is sustain and improve upon in subsequent years to attain its anticipated height.

Muku maintained that the event which is hosted alongside the annual Calabar Festival was instructive as activities display during the 32 Day event is simply a display of the works of art which affirms their believed that visual art, if properly harness is economically viable.

Chairman of the occasion and Chairman, House Committee on Tourism, Hon Ahmed Barata represented by his Legislative Compliance counterpart, Sen. Moroof Fatai, re-assured the congregation of the national assembly's commitment to the sector in the area of funding and speedy passage of laws that will facilitate the growth of modern art.

He added that the national assembly in support of the transformation agenda of Mr. President will continue to make the relevant laws for the peace, order and good governance.

Via: Cross River State Government - Official Press Release