Creative industry stakeholders in Ibadan have backed the re-election bid of Oloye Akin Alabi, member representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, while calling for more legislation that will create opportunities and support the growth of the sector.
The stakeholders made their position known during an engagement with Oloye Alabi, where they discussed the place of the creative industry in the economy, the challenges confronting practitioners and the need for stronger support for people working across different areas of the sector.
The creators commended Oloye Alabi for engaging directly with them and listening to their concerns, describing the meeting as an opportunity for practitioners to have a direct conversation with a lawmaker about issues affecting their careers, businesses and the wider creative community.
Some of the practitioners told the lawmaker, “You have done well,” while acknowledging his efforts and encouraging him not to stop at what he had already achieved.
They urged Oloye Alabi to do more for the creative community if given another opportunity to serve, particularly by supporting initiatives and legislation that could create more opportunities for practitioners.
A major request from the stakeholders was for Oloye Alabi to support and sponsor more creative industry-friendly bills, which they said would provide a stronger framework for the development of the sector.
They argued that the creative industry needs legislation that reflects the realities of practitioners and provides an environment where talents can be developed, creative businesses can grow and professionals can build sustainable careers.
The stakeholders said stronger legislative support could also help open up more opportunities across entertainment, content creation and other areas of the creative economy.
Beyond legislation, the creatives encouraged Oloye Alabi to maintain regular engagement with practitioners, saying continuous interaction would give lawmakers a better understanding of the challenges confronting people in the sector.
They said such engagements would also allow practitioners to contribute their ideas and experiences to conversations around policies and programmes affecting the creative industry.
The stakeholders further urged Oloye Alabi to use his position at the National Assembly to draw greater attention to issues affecting the sector and support initiatives capable of giving practitioners better access to opportunities.
While expressing support for his re-election bid, the creatives also called on Oloye Alabi to build on the relationship established with the creative community and ensure that practitioners continue to have a voice in discussions concerning the future of the industry.
They stressed that support for the creative sector should go beyond words, urging greater attention to policies, legislation and opportunities that can translate into tangible benefits for practitioners.
Responding, Oloye Alabi encouraged the creatives to take their profession more seriously and work towards upgrading their standards.
He advised them to properly brand themselves, improve the quality of their work and present themselves professionally, stressing the importance of building strong personal and professional identities within the creative industry.
The lawmaker urged practitioners to continuously develop their skills and raise the standard of their productions and services, noting that higher standards would help position them for greater opportunities within and outside Nigeria.
Oloye Alabi also encouraged the creatives to see themselves as professionals and businesses, rather than merely individuals pursuing their talents, urging them to build brands capable of attracting wider recognition and opportunities.
He further assured the practitioners of his commitment to creating opportunities for them and supporting initiatives that could help them advance their careers.
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The lawmaker urged the creatives to remain organised, proactive and committed to improving their craft while positioning themselves to benefit from opportunities within the growing creative economy.
