Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
charged the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officers of some agencies
under the Ministry to consider their appointment by Mr. President as a
call to national service.
The Minister, who gave the charge in Abuja on Friday at his maiden
meeting with the CEOs, said they must work hard to justify their
appointments.
He specifically urged them to key into the nine-Point Agenda of the
Administration, identified to guide the policy directions over the
next few years and to achieve national development.
“You must consider your appointment by Mr. President as a call to
national service, and you must work hard to justify it. A starting
point is for you to ensure that the activities of your agencies key
into the nine priority areas of government.
“Of particular relevance to your various agencies, especially those in
the culture and tourism sectors, are priorities 1, which is to build a
thriving and sustainable economy, and 2, which is to enhance social
inclusion and reduce poverty,” Alhaji Mohammed said, adding that the
Ministry of Information and Culture is already working on these areas
through its reform of the Creative Industry and the efforts to put in
place a standard Audience Measurement System.
Describing the new CEOs as round pegs in round holes, he said they
were carefully selected based on their respective track record of
achievements, competence and years of dedication to duty.
The Minister said the CEOs are joining a government that is doing so
much with so little, especially at a time of dwindling resources due
to the sharp fall in the price of oil and the devastating impact of
the Covid-19 pandemic on global economies.
He said in spite of the challenges, the government has remained
steadfast in carrying out massive infrastructural renewal in the areas
of roads, bridges, rail and power, among others.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the General Manager/CEO of the
National Theatre, Prof. Sunny Ododo, thanked President Muhammadu
Buhari for the appointments and assured that he and his colleagues
will consolidate on the gains so far recorded by the Minister, and
strive to make the Creative Industry an enviable component of the
Nigerian economy.
The new CEOs who attended the meeting are Mr. Buki Ponle, Managing
Director, News Agency of Nigeria; Mr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Registrar,
Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria; Prof. Sunny Ododo,
General Manager/CEO, National Theatre; Mr. Francis Nwosu, Executive
Secretary, Nigerian Press Council; Mr. Ado Muhammed Yahuza, Executive
Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation and Mr.
Ebetan William Ivara, Director-General, National Gallery of Arts.
Others are Prof. Abba Isa Tijjani, Director-General, National
Commission for Museums and Monuments; Mrs. Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao,
Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization
and Mr. Nura Sani Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for
Hospitality and Tourism.
