Commissioner Tasks Performing Arts Practitioners To Compose ‘LAGOS ANTHEM’

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf has challenged practitioners in the Performing Arts sector to come up with an anthem that will reflect the ways, lifestyle, culture and resilience of the people of Lagos State.

The Commissioner gave the charge when the practitioners paid a courtesy visit to her office at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, just as she also sought for an improved relationship to develop the entertainment industry as a whole.

She remarked that the Performing Arts sector is critical to the realisation of the Ministry’s mandate, being a sector that thrives on creativity and ingenuity.

According to her, if the practitioners come up with the composition, the Ministry would present it to the government for approval and usage at every State function, stressing that the anthem must be such that propels the identity, morals and uniqueness of the Centre of Excellence in the hearts of all residents.

While making reference to some States that have State Anthems, Akinbile-Yusuf observed that the citation of anthems in those States usually reflects the cultural renaissance, identity and altruistic disposition of their residents.

The Commissioner opined that the composition should reflect on the policy direction of the present administration in the State, especially with reference to its T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

She also used the opportunity of the visit to inform the stakeholders of the need to upscale the creative industry for more attraction to the public, assuring them of government’s support to reposition the sector.

Speaking on the newly completed Lagos Theatres in different locations across the State, the Commissioner said that the centres are open for use by the practitioners, urging them to approach the Ministry whenever a need to use any theatre arises.

Responding on behalf of her colleagues, the Cofounder of Lufodo Group, actress and film producer, Mrs. Joke Silva Jacobs, commended the State government for its support to the sector and pleaded for the establishment of more theatres to meet the entertainment needs of the practitioners.

She said, “We want the government to know that what we do is because of passion, we help to assuage pains, create an atmosphere of tranquility and help people purge out their worries. All these cannot be quantified in monetary terms; the government should realise this and give us necessary institutional and financial support because in a way, we assist government to create a sane society that will be easy to govern”.

Some members of the visiting team include the Founder and Chairperson of the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria, Sarah Boulos; the General Manager of Terra Kulture, Joseph Umoibom; the CEO of Make It Happen Production Company Ltd, Kemi Lala Akindoju and the Founding Partner of Oxzygen Koncepts, Toritseju Ejoh.

Others are Osafile Olawuyi Oladotun, Kehinde Oretimehin, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Ifeoma Fafunwa, Segun Adefila and Bovi.