By Nelson Utip
Walter Anga, a star of Nollywood has urged stakeholders in the creative industry in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region at large to be creative and do away with the entitlement mentality to attract tangible investment to the region.
Anga stated this in Bayelsa State at a symposium with stakeholders of the creative Industry, calling for support to ensure the growth of the industry in the state and region at large. This was at the maiden edition of The Sylvester Sede’s Symposium with the theme: ‘Creative Innovation and Sustainability: A Glimpse into Bayelsa’s Future’, at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
As the keynote speaker,Anga commended the efforts invested in the creative industry in Bayelsa State with an applause to the vision of the Convener, Sylvester Sede.
‘’It is a collective responsibility to build the creative industry in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region. Niger Delta youths should get over the sense of entitlement mentality,’’ Anga said.
Rt. Hon Tonye Isenah , a former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and The immediate-past Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Political Affairs, Chief Collins Cocodia, elucidated the role government can play to stimulate development in the creative industry.
According to Cocodia the government role is to create a conducive environment while the private sector should provide the facilities that would accelerate development in the creative industry.
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“The government angle in nurturing the creative industry is good policy. Once we have good policies put together by the government and the environment also contributes. There are no security issues, there is peace in the state then the creative industry will thrive. Currently, Bayelsa is one of the safest states in Nigeria.
‘’Facilities will come from private investors. Government would not build hotels for people to shoot films. Government can come up with the idea of a Film Village.’’Cocodia said.
Isenah in his part exposed the frustration of youths over lack of funds, calling for viable projects that can attract investments from the government.
The first panel session had speakers with the sub-theme: ‘Harnessing the untapped potential of Bayelsa’, stressed the importance of promoting the Bayelsa Brand.
Other speakers, including Harry Porbeni, Boma Mac- Ake, Emma Eco and Theresa Ebi Tobuyei advocated for pragmatic resilience to build the Bayelsa brand,
Porbeni on his part highlighted the need for Bayelsa consciousness on positive trends to promote the state while Mac- Eke deemphasized location as a factor in the success stories of various creative industry players.
The convener, Sede, The Managing Director/ CEO of Silverflame Media, said the symposium was aimed at the provision of a vision of development for the creative industry in Bayelsa State.
‘’As we embark on this journey of discovery and collaboration, we recognise the pivotal role that creativity and innovation play in driving progress and fostering sustainable development in our communities,” he stated.
