Great debate around Culture Policy

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

The two day  stakeholders culture conference that held at Bolingo Hotels &Towers, Abuja under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation  last week was seen by many ministerial watchers as a landmark development and  probably, a harbinger   to an end  of the prolonged call for a National Culture Policy for the country.

During his first  inaugural visit of the Lagos offices of the parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, the  Ministry’s newly appointed Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohamed in a response to media question about the non conclusion about the debate on some sections of the 2008 draft of  Nigeria’s National Culture Policy, had promised to take up the matter, which he explained was still being  received attention by the National Assembly.

Surprisingly, the issue of   National culture  policy, which according  the 2008 draft vision statement is among other things; meant to “ strengthen understanding, create a national consciousness, advance the appreciation of arts and culture and enhance Nigeria’s identity worldwide…” began its disheartening  and  non conclusive journey  since 1975.

However, since the inception of the present democratic dispensation, the issue of  national culture policy and call for the establishment of  National Endowment Fund for the Arts have assumed greater stringency; most especially, since the  birth of late Musa Yar’dua’s   national development blue print articulated in his famous  economic policy guideline popularly known as the  7point agenda, which identifies the culture sector as a major player in  national economic growth as well as  in the realization of  the agenda of the Millennial Development Goal, MDG.

It was perhaps in the realization of the  roles   that culture plays in the present world order, that Abubakar, shortly after his promise to culture and tourism journalists decided to convoke this all important conference, which had in attendance participants drawn from the culture  ministry, Federal Inland Revenue Services, Academia, Artistic guides and the Media to deliberate on the theme; Taxation and the Arts: Empowering the Professionals in the Creative Industries.

The choice of the theme of the conference was perhaps informed by the need to deliberate on  the provisions of Section 4 of the   2008 draft National Cultural Policy, which stakeholders  feel do not provide  enough tax incentive measures for artists to  meaningfully practice their profession to the  enhancement of economic growth.

Talking in his capacity as the Special Guest of Honuor at the event, Rt. Hon. Usman Bayero Nafada, Deputy Speaker, House of Representative emphasised on the need for the Federal Government to coming up with a “ necessary legal framework” capable of helping in the financing of arts in the country.

According to him,” We must create the necessary legal instruments and ambience for private sectors participation and partnership.

“It is in this light that section 4 of the draft National Policy on Culture should be supported to adequately provide tax incentive i.e. tax rebates and tax holidays for corporate bodies and patrons wishing to support the arts and cultural activities.

“These will definitely go a long way to reposition and refocus the financing of Art and Culture in tune with modern and worldwide trends.”

In his own brief remarks, Alh.S.B.Ozigis, the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation spoke  about  the need to reviving the potential economic power of the arts by establishing a healthy and viable relationship between arts and the economy so that by so doing, the art sub- sector would help to reposition the nation’s mono economy.

“At a time, when efforts are being made to diversify the economy of this country, and move her away from the mono-economy syndrome; which the oil industry has plunged us into; the time is now ripe for us to explore the full economic potentials which this sector holds.” He said.

At the two day conference, important position papers were presented for deliberations: University of Lagos, lecturer of Law, Abiola Sanni presented the lead paper titled; Taxation and the Arts- Empowering the Art Professionals. Mark Anthony .C.Dike  of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, spoke on Tax Policy As A Tool For Empowering The Professionals In The Creative Industries  Of Nigeria.

Other people, who presented papers are: Pioneer  Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Frank Aig Imoukhuede, who spoke on the title; Rebranding Nigeria’s National Endowment for the Arts Act of 1991 for Service and Effectiveness , former Artistic Director of National Troupe,Ahmed Yerima, who presented ; Government and the Management of the Culture: Endowments of the Arts and Taxation and Nkanta George Ufot, Director of Culture, who provided  a guiding background story about the debate in a paper titled; Background Paper- The Journey So Far.

Important stakeholders, who attended the conference include: Director of CBAAC, Prof. Tunde Babawale, Director of NGA, Muku Abdullahi, Director of National Troupe, Martins Adaji, and Representative of NICO.

Others are: Bond Emeruwa, President, Director Guild of Nigeria, SAN President, Uwa Usen, NANTAP President, Greg Odutayo, ANA President; Jerry Agada, President Creative Design Guild, Iyen Agbonife, Tony Okoroji, former PMAN, President, AMMA Director, Peace Fabrisima Anyiam –Osigwe and  Culture Activist, Ben Tomoloju among others.