We’ll increase Lagos GDP through entertainment – Ambode
Tasks artistes on structured framework to transform industry
Shina Peters, Adewale Ayuba, Salawa Abeni, Tiwa Savage, others hail Gov

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday revealed plans of his administration to leverage on the vast economic opportunities in entertainment, tourism and arts sectors, among others to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the State and promote talents in the State to compete globally.

Speaking at Lagos House, Ikeja when he received artistes who performed at the One Lagos Fiesta (OLF), who were on a thank-you-visit, Governor Ambode said the creative industry remained a veritable platform to grow the economy, and that government would tap into it and use it to positively engage the bulging youths in the State.

The OLF, which is an annual end of the year revue put together by the State Government, held simultaneously in five different locations across the State from December 24, 2016 to January 1, 2017, and it was adjudged to be very successful with participation of a-list artistes from different genres of music.

The Governor, who thanked the artistes for their partnership with the State Government, said the OLF was a platform put together by his administration to majorly create awareness about the potentials inherent in the entertainment industry, especially in using it to grow the economy and positively develop talents that abound in the country.

He said according to statistics, the State recorded the lowest crime rate during the period of the OLF, saying that the artists contributed significantly in keeping the city secured and scale up the international rating of the State as a safe place.

He recalled the Project T.H.E.S.E (Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Sports for Excellence) which was part of campaign promises to Lagosians, saying that his administration remained committed to using the initiative as well as the OLF to grow the economy of the State.

He said: “We have a bulging youth population dynamics in Lagos. 66 per cent of our population are below the age of 35 and if two third are of below 35, it means there is an economy in that age bracket that government is not seeing. The OLF was used to test run how to bring people together.

“The issue now is beyond OLF, how do we now take that opportunity to become a catalyst for this partnership? On my part, I want to reiterate my commitment. This is an area I love which is underutilized for the societal development of the country.

“Government is now willing to use your industry to grow its GDP because so far entertainers are working, we would have more visitors coming to Lagos; they will stay in our hotels; they will buy clothes; they will go out in the night and buy our drinks and the ultimate thing is that more taxes come in for the state.

“So, there is a concentric cycle around the energy of entertainers and so what I want is a structured framework. What is it that we should do as government to grow the industry? Why should we go and be doing video shoot in South Africa for instance? I want a win-win partnership not just to use artistes and dump them till another December. I want a year-round partnership that is built around a framework,” he said.

Going forward, Governor Ambode tasked artistes to come up with a structured framework to grow the economy, while government will provide infrastructures and initiatives to help the sector.

“The challenge for our artistes now is to come up with a framework of how government can intervene. We are willing to support and we are willing to draw up a programme to support you but how do you want to fuse into that to make Lagos the entertainment hub in Africa? That is the challenge but I want to thank you for honoring us,” the Governor said.

Many of the big names in the entertainment industry including Queen Salawa Abeni, Adewale Ayuba, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, Sir Shina Peters, Sound Sultan among others, lauded Governor Ambode for the OLF initiative and his commitment to grow the industry.

Other notable names who were part of the delegation included Folarin Falana (Falz), M.I Abaga, Patoranking, Obesere, Tony Tetuila, Dr Sid, Idris Abdulkareem, Aramide, CDQ, Sulaimon ‘Atawewe’ Adio, Reekado Banks, Humblesmith, Dammy Krane among others.

cc; Lalasticlala,mynd44

Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2017/01/well-increase-lagos-gdp-through.html?m=1

Read more. http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2017/01/well-increase-lagos-gdp-through.html?m=1

First to comment, where are these mods? Oya.............

Ok

Ambode is working

Eko koni baje ooo. But Lagos state is lucky to have have ugu exporters

Beautiful move by Ambode

Now this is a serious governor. There is serious money in entertainment. Not only in music but in movies, dance etc. Invest in this and watch Lagos grow into another Las Vegas

Is that humble smith

i support

Naija home of shit!

Lagos ahead.

Lagos is NOT 'no man's land', but it's home for all.

Ambo wan turn Lagos to Las Vegas ehn. Issok, life is good

Dats my Governor...endtime Governor

Eko oni Baje

I can see alariwo of Africa. He has turned oyinbo, completely

Wey baddo sneh

frenchwine:
Ambo wan turn Lagos to Las Vegas ehn. Issok, life is good

No boko haram here and no pipe line vandalism

Lagos! A country inside a country.

We love you Ambo! Ride on nonstop!

Is MI short or just a dwarf

Blame it on ogogoro..

Just asking

Oga Gomina do you mean through flexing and lounging at Quilox .

Nice one

MI short buh hin moni tall

Lagos is the entertainment capital of Africa.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima | Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/s/Ekenyerengozi+Michael+Chima?_requestid=1395496
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

Quilox nightclub chairman of owambe affairs speaking.
How did we end up with all these dumb people as our constituted authority?

davodyguy:
No boko haram here and no pipe line vandalism

With all the Boko Haram terrorists arrested in Lagos?
Where have you been?
Why are you deceiving yourself?

freeborn76:
Lagos is NOT 'no man's land', but it's home for all.

You plagiarised that from our president who said- I belong to nobody, I belong to everybody.
We now understand that he was lying as usual.
He is the most nepotistic president we have ever had filling most positions with northerners.

NLorubebe:
MI short buh hin moni tall

No be lie. talent = money