Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said the creative industry is Nigeria’s new oil.

Mohammed said this in Lagos on Thursday when he spoke about the Creative Industry Financing Conference holding in the city on Monday and Tuesday.

He said the creative industry was capable of producing a breakthrough for the country.

He said, “The creative industry contributed 84.1 billion pounds Sterling to the British economy in 2014. It also contributed $698 bn to the US Economy, according to a 2015 report. So, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind; hence, we are ready to explore and exploit the new oil.”

Mohammed added, “We conceived this conference because of our realisation that lack of access to financing is stunting the growth of the creative industry. It is the latest in a series of conferences and other events that we have held since assuming office. Recall that we held the landmark National Summit on Culture and Tourism last year to chart the path for the industry. Most of its recommendations are already being implemented.

“Also, on Monday, we held a Roundtable on the Creative Industry here in Lagos. Recall also that we have signed a number of MoUs, with the Bank of Industry, the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the British Council, all for the sole purpose of boosting the Creative Industry.

“This Administration attaches a lot of importance to the creative industry. This is in line with its cardinal programme of diversifying the economy away from oil.

Other sectors being developed into pillars of the economy include the creative industry, agriculture and solid minerals.”

Azeez