Why arts fund is yet to take-off, by minister
By Gregory Austin Nwakunor
IMPLEMENTATION of the planned National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is being delayed to allow correction of some detected lapses in its operation, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Franklin Nchita Ogbuewu has said.
The minister, speaking at the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes (SONTA) 2004 national convention which began yesterday in Lagos, said the decree that authorised the establishment of NEA was deficient in certain areas.
His words: "We found it to be deficient in the sense that there were so many things that we cannot do which if we do, would not be done perfectly."
According to him, a committee was appointed to look into the lapses and make recommendations that would eventually aid the process of enacting the law and the launching of NEA.
"A committee was appointed to look into it and make recommendations, which of course would go to the Justice Ministry. The Minister of Justice will now have to present it to the Executive Council, after which it would go to the National Assembly.
"In all, our joint goal is to take the culture and tourism sector away from the backwaters of officialdom and plant it firmly on the front burners of national action and global recognition."
Ogbuewu, who was reminded that NEA has not been launched after several promises, said what was important was that it would eventually be launched. "I'm going to do everything to speed up the process of having it launched.
It would not take time before the fund is launched. I want to assure all the stake holders that NEA will be launched as soon as the bill is passed by the National Assembly."
The minister who said his administration is determined to move the culture sector forward, revealed that the ministry has begun a concerted battle against piracy in the country.
"Similarly, it is our plan to confront more seriously the violation of our people's intellectual property rights by same unscrupulous elements in the society. Therefore, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) would be encouraged and repositioned to rise to the onerous challenges ahead.
"To underscore the importance that we attach to the attainment of our desired goals, plans have been concluded to convene special retreats as a way of articulating our journey to early raid, and comprehensive transformation of our ministry and its parastatals towards quality service in the culture and tourism sector. All these put together will assist us immensely as we strive to meet SERVICOMSÕs target of service delivery to our stakeholders and to fit into the goals and objectives of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS)," he stressed.
Also yesterday, SONTA conferred its fellowship award on some eminent theatre teachers who have contributed immensely to theatre practice in the country. Among those honoured with the SONTA fellowship were Professor Ezekiel (Ziky) Kofoworola of Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, Bode Osanyin, an Associate Professor in Creative Arts, University of Lagos and Dr. Duro Oni, also, an Associate Professor in the Department. The highest award of the association, trustee, was conferred on the minister and the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof. Shamsudeen Amali.
