Abuja – Ms Susan Mansour, the Regional Research Manager, Sub Sahara Africa, British Council, says lack of qualitative education and professionalism are the bane of the creativity industry in Nigeria.
Mansour made this known on Wednesday during the panel discussion at the ongoing two-day conference and expo organised by the British Council in Abuja.
The theme of the conference is, “Creative Education and skills and how it underpins competitiveness.’’
She said that professionalism and qualitative education whether formal or informal should be encouraged to strengthen the creativity industry to overcome barriers in the sector.
“The Nigerian creative industry is large, diverse, dynamic and growing and it is contributing as one of the global economic success stories of the world.
“Yet the creative industry and its potential in Nigeria still remain untapped and with the emerging domestic market, we must overcome barriers to develop and build a more committed market for the industry.
She said that lack of professionalism undermines the business model for many creative products and services, thus reducing the requirement to build a well managed formalised and high skilled creative businesses.
Also speaking, Dr Paul Nwulu, programme officer, Advancing Public Service Media, Ford Foundation West Africa, said that creative entrepreneurship and the promotion of creative careers were rarely supported by school system.
“This lack of support in-turn devalues the industry as a serious and respected sector because the sector inherits people from a school system that has not supported creative skills development.
“Curriculum for creative industry’s activity is under developed and the provision of coherently designed, accredited and certified courses is absent.
He said that lack of qualitative education and professionalism would result to lack of quality control and low levels of reform and innovation.
“Common example is that courses taught 25 years ago in a pre-digital era that are in place now will be missing out in quality.
In his remarks, Mr Tom Porter, Director Arts, Sub Sahara Africa, British Council, said that if Nigeria was to have a major creative economy, it must create a skill based activities that compete with the best creative skills elsewhere.
“Quality education and professionalism is a top-up on existing skills through a systematic approach to course design and structure where creativity gains accredited training with quality assurance.
NAN reports that the conference was attended by people from all walks of life in the creative industry in Nigeria and the UK. (NAN)
