A Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Ayomide Adeagbo has described the administration as youth-friendly.
He said Tinubu’s administration has the highest percentage of youth inclusiveness so far in Nigeria.
Speaking in Ibadan during an interview, Adeagbo stated that any nation that wants to get to its peak must consider youth inclusiveness in politics and governance as crucial.
He urged governors to replicate the level of youth inclusiveness, adding that the right people should be put in the right position.
He described creativity as the ‘present-day oil sector’, applauding Tinubu’s initiative in creating a ministry for the arts industry, saying it is a move towards diversification from the oil sector.
According to him, there has not been a direct link between creatives and government to collaborate unlike what applies in other professions over the years.
He said the arts, culture, and creative ministry is ready to aid creatives nationwide through policymaking, facilitation, and collaboration to favour their growth and healthy competition with their peers globally.
“The creative industry is a broad industry where tailors, chefs, carpenters, and many others are considered creatives as much as writers, musicians, and artists are. During our interaction with the creatives, they highlighted the fact that over the years, they have not had anybody to run to in government.
“They feel like the government does not even care about them. This has been their major challenge, unlike people in other Sectors who have one ministry or the other to run to when things are not working well. That is why the President after hearing the clamours of the youths and the creatives, decided to create this ministry.
“We have hit the ground running with facilitation aimed at the growth of creatives, collaboration between the government and creatives, advocating for favorable policies as well as diplomacy with embassies and cultural attachés to create a balance for the creatives so they can expand their brand beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“This government does not see the youths as a threat. We are all youths in the APC government. We want to work with the youths. That is why Mr. President has appointed several youths. We have two brilliant ministers as our minister for youths. It has never happened before, having two ministers for the youth ministry. This government believes so much in youth, it is a youth-friendly government. It is our time as youths and we have to put ourselves right as youths.
“It is important Governors understand that certain important portfolios should not be toyed with. This youth constituency is very important. If we get it right there, we are good because it is only a youth who can understand what a youth wants. So, we have to be intentional about these things.”
