Osinbajo hosts Kannywood actors, says ‘entertainment industry crucial to Nigeria’s unity’

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the entertainment industry is crucial to sustaining Nigeria’s unity.

According to NAN, Osinbajo spoke when he hosted a delegation of top Kannywood figures and northern entertainers at the presidential villa on Thursday.

Osinbajo said the creative sector is one of the most vibrant in the country, adding that efforts must be in place to ensure it functions effectively.

“I think one of the best things that our country has is talent, very solid talent; sometimes we make the mistake of not exhibiting our talents enough, not showing off our talents enough and it’s a big mistake because this is our best resource,” he said.

“When you look at our country, here is a fantastic country, with talents from every corner, but it can also be a place where people are just fighting, quarrelling over nothing; whereas we can bring, with the power of what you are doing, we can bring people together, we can bring all our people together.

“If you look at sports, if you look at entertainment, they can bring people together; and we must use it to bring our people together; we must use this talent to bring our people together.

“I like the film industry. I enjoy comedy, I enjoy songs in whatever language, and I’m sure there are so many who are interested.

“Even sometimes looking at a video when you don’t even speak the language, you look at a video you’ll laugh because you know that it is funny.”

Osinbajo also enjoined the delegation, led by Dauda Kahutu better known as Alhaji Rarara, to utilise the industry to promote unity in the country.

“The usefulness of your talent is not just for a small set of people, but it is for everybody because your contributions are very important,” he added.

“I am happy to see all of us who are here, people who are using their talents to invest as they can. We can do more, if we are supported, supported by government, supported by the private sector, but the question is how, how are we going to do that?

“I want us to take this meeting seriously so that we can have a meeting to advance what we have been talking about.”

In his remark, Yakubu Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the group, commended Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also called for government’s assistance in addressing the financial and other challenges facing the Kannywood, adding that the industry is lagging behind.