Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has stated the commitment of his administration to continue to play up the arts and entertainment industry to grow the economy and positively engage the youth, saying the sector remains a veritable platform to improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state and Nigeria.
Ambode spoke at the performance of a stage play – Oba Esugbayi, held at the Muson Centre in Onikan, Lagos, saying since coming on board, his administration has made conscious efforts to invest in the arts and entertainment sector in view of its potentials.
Ambode, who described the sector as the future of the state, said the investment so far made was geared towards using the industry as a springboard to plan for the burgeoning youth population in the state.
“I am a lover of arts and as a government, we have invested so much in culture, entertainment and so on. The real GDP of Lagos is in entertainment and arts because that is where the future is.
“The population dynamics of Lagos is like 65 percent below the age of 35 and you have to start to find somewhere to actually fill in that gap to grow the GDP of Lagos and that is why we have decided that we would promote arts, culture and entertainment and that is just the right way to go,” Ambode said.
The governor, who also commended the creativity and versatility of the cast and production crew of the stage play in coming up with the show, assured of continued support to the sector whether in government or out of government.
“When I see younger people and the sense of creativity around them and the energy, it brings that sense of hope in this country and whatever support I can give in and out of government, I will do it without hesitation,” he said.
