FRI JAN 17 2025-theGBJournal| The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the state’s reputation as Africa’s entertainment capital by building on the remarkable success of ‘Detty December’, which drew over 1.2 million fun-seekers from Nigeria and the diaspora in 2024.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, made this known during a courtesy visit by Ghazi Shami, the founder of Empire Distribution, Records, and Publishing Company USA, to her office on Tuesday.
Highlighting the critical role the entertainment industry played in the success of ‘Detty December’, Benson-Awoyinka lauded the contributions of music icons such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Adekunle Gold, Seyi Vibez and others.
She revealed plans to make the 2025 edition even more impactful, aligning with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of boosting economic and cultural development through tourism.
The Commissioner acknowledged the strides Lagos State has made in the film and creative sectors but emphasised the need for similar structured support in the music industry.
She announced plans to bridge existing gaps through initiatives such as the establishment of a music academy, talent hunts, and specialised training programmes.
“While Lagos has achieved a lot in the film and creative industry, we recognise that the music sector still requires significant attention.
Our goal is to nurture talents and create a pipeline of skilled professionals, including musicians, executives, lawyers, and engineers, ensuring Lagos continues to dominate the global music scene,” she stated.
Ghazi Shami, founder of Empire, praised Lagos for its achievements and described Detty December as a “global showcase of African excellence.”
He identified a critical need to develop the legal framework supporting the Nigerian music industry.
“One of the major challenges is the lack of specialised legal expertise in the Nigerian music industry. It is disheartening to see young artists sign contracts that could negatively affect their careers due to a lack of informed guidance. This gap often results in international lawyers handling contracts that Nigerian practitioners should manage, which undermines local confidence and expertise”, Shami noted
He emphasised the importance of trained professionals with a solid understanding of record deals, royalty agreements, and intellectual property rights, calling for collaborative efforts to address the issues.
Shami expressed his willingness to work with the Lagos State Government to close these gaps and empower Nigerian artists to secure better deals and protect their interests.
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