Minister of Information and Culture, 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 artefacts were destroyed during the demolition of illegal structures and shanties at the National Theatre, Lagos, in January.
“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.
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 organisations 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, 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.
