The Jamaican government has joined a lengthy list of countries considering robust engagement with Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Lincoln Downer, stated that the government intends to pursue a robust relationship with Nigeria in the film and animation industries.
Downer spoke during a visit to Mrs. Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, in Abuja.
He also underscored Jamaica’s strong ties with Nigeria, stressing existing creative sector exchanges and expressing a desire to strengthen these partnerships.
He stated that Nigeria has assisted Jamaica through the technical eco-program, which has facilitated exchanges in areas such as cultural apparel production, such as batik, and jewelry creation.
“There is a lot of scope for collaboration, particularly in the area of film and animation.
“Nigeria has supported Jamaica over many years in the creative industry through the technical eco-program, where artisans have been dispatched to Jamaica for exchanges in areas of batik and jewelry-making.
“We are hoping that sometime in the future, these collaborations can be expanded.
“We also note that Nigeria and Jamaica are in very close relations when it comes to entertainment. A lot of Nigerian entertainers, like Burna Boy and WizKid, have come to Jamaica, as has even Victor Thompson, who was in Jamaica last month.
“We are looking forward to these sorts of exchanges between both countries and to seeing how we can establish a framework for deeper collaboration between the two countries.
“On Monday, we celebrated 54 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Jamaica.
“We are interested in future collaborations with Nigeria because we recognize Nigeria as not only the cultural hub of Africa but of the globe. We also have a rich culture, so we are interested in forging a stronger alliance with Nigeria,” Downer said.
In addition to expressing interest in Jamaica’s film development effort and the Audio-Visual Film Production Agreement, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa applauded the proposal.
She also emphasized the IDICE program in Nigeria, which offers financial assistance to artists.
“There is a natural partnership between Nigeria and Jamaica, especially in arts and culture. I am happy about the cultural exchange being proposed by the Jamaican government and the positive values that can come out of it.
“We are interested in the audio-visual Film agreement proposed by Jamaica. I am excited about your film development initiative, which is just like Nigeria’s IDICE, which empowers creatives to flourish through financial support.
“We are looking forward to discussing other opportunities that can support creatives in the industry,” she said.
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