Practitioners in Nigeria’s creative industry have been appraised over the benefits of possessing comprehensive health insurance.
This became necessary following the spate of health threats that have hit no fewer than seven members of the creative industry in recent time.
To this effect, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has advised all practitioners in the sector to embrace insurance against future life emergencies.
Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, who decried situations where members turned beggars, especially when medically challenged, gave the advice at the third Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference (NDCRC) in Lagos recently.
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The NFVCB’s boss said that practitioners must be insured to cater for unforeseen emergencies, warning that they should not, at any time, ignore insurance.
According to him, it is for all of us in the creative industry.
“I have never read where the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), or Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) put in the newspapers that they were looking for funds to take care of one of their members. We are not beggars; we are contributing to the economy; we must be wise within ourselves.
“We have been very careless with ourselves; we have to be frank. Part of the production cost should include insurance for all, even for a caterer who works within the production.
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“We, in the film industry form the majority employers of labour anywhere in the world, so there are a lot of hazards that can happen within and outside film production. We have to include an insurance package in the production cost.
“It safeguards us so that we won’t be clapping our hands and begging all around when our members have issues. We should be able to protect ourselves,” he said.
He advised stakeholders to self-regulate their activities in line with the nation’s values and laws.
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The Chief Host and Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musawa, who expressed delight in the event, assured stakeholders of President Bola Tinubu’s focus in promoting an attractive investment and partnership in and to Nigeria.
Musawa, who was represented by Baba Agba, the Senior Special Assistant on Films, Videos and Musicals, said that the president was keen on creating the right framework that encouraged ease of doing business to achieve the nation‘s aspirations for this sector assuring that “Nigeria will continue to provide the enabling environment for digital businesses to thrive,”
Also speaking, Chairman, the House of Representatives Committee on Culture and Tourism, Kareem Abisodun, who described the conference as apt, said that all discussions had encapsulated the realities of all opportunities, challenges and the way forward for creative digital content.
