VP, Obasanjo Back PMAN/NMHF

Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has described the Nigerian music industry as big and with potentials to create employment for job seekers in the country.

He made the statement when a delegation of notable musicians led by the President of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Admiral Dele Abiodun performed an investiture on him as the First National Patron, PMAN – Nigeria Music Hall of Fame (PMAM – NMHF) in Aso Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

While commending Nigerian musicians for holding on to their talents and accepting the honour bestowed on him, the Vice President noted that though government might have lost sight of the huge income earning potentials of the music industry, he emphasized that “talent is easier to use to create wealth…and it serves as a means of survival.”

He described the Hall of Fame, which is a museum set up as a reward platform for musicians who have contributed to the growth of the music industry and the country, like late Fela Anikulapo, Bobby Benson and others as necessary.
“People who have contributed should not be forgotten”, he noted.

According to Abiodun, Nigeria musicians need the support of notable Nigerians to carry out certain very important changes in the music industry.

In a similar development, daughter of former President, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo Bello, a nominated member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) who also received the delegation in her office describes the PMAN – NMHF as laudable.
Nigerian musicians seek government support in the bid to position the PMAN – NMHF and Nigerian music for export and tourism.

The Senator who said she is lover of music noted that “government should be part of the enterprise”.
Adding that “supporting the art is very important to national development since it is huge employment generator”
Admiral Dele Abiodun expresses hope that with government support, his administration’s quest to ensure that musicians earn proportionately from their intellectual properties and that music contributes significantly to national income is achieved.