Stakeholders urge Kaduna Govt to invest in entertainment industry

Participants at an investment summit in Kaduna, on Thursday called on the state government to invest in the entertainment industry, so as to provide employment opportunities to the youths.

The participants made the suggestion during discussions on innovation and social impact investment, at the ongoing Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit.

Mr Audu Maikori, the Chief Executive Officer, Chocolate City, said that the value chain in the entertainment industry have the potential of taking reasonable number of unemployed youths off the streets.

“We have been talking about youths unemployment and job creation and somehow focused largely on agriculture and mining as key sectors to provide solutions to this problem.

“But nobody is talking about the entertainment industry.

“In film production for example, you’ll have the actors, cameramen, script writers, costume designers, make-up artists, directors, graphic designers, name them.

“What am saying is that the industry’s potentials in job creation had remain untapped and I want Kaduna state government to look into it.

“The United States has invested hugely in the entertainment industry and the sector is currently selling the country to the world through music, film, fashion and sports,” Maikori said.

He said Chacolate City, an entertainment outfit investing in nurturing young talent in the industry with branches in Abuja and Lagos, has concluded plans to open up a branch in Kaduna.

Also, Emmanuel Babayaro, Chairman, Kaduna United Foosball Club equally said that the entertainment industry and sports have the potentials of providing one million jobs, if properly harnessed.

According to him, Nigerian youths are more talented than Brazilians in football, adding that Brazil excel in the game of football because the government has invested in it.

Babayaro urged the state government to look into sport and entertainment as viable sectors in addressing youths unemployment.