In a bid to eradicate piracy and ensure that artists and creative arts practitioners reap bountifully for their efforts, the Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to curb piracy in the state.
The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu stated this on Wednesday while speaking at the ‘Google for Nigeria Cultural Night’ organized by Google for Nigeria to project the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria to the world at Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, declared that “There is a need for artistes to earn more from their work because it is their work. So, we must prevent people from stealing their work. We need to work on the copyright issue as well as domesticate it in Lagos.
The moment we do that, the rest of the nation will catch up”.
He stated further that the government will need to review the implementation of the law with a view to enhancing its capacity to favour artistes and eliminate the ability for anyone to steal the intellectual property of hardworking individuals.
While commending the Board and Management of Google for Nigeria on the revolutionary Corporate Social Responsibility initiative geared towards championing the cause of promoting the cultural ideals of the country, he noted that the present administration is strongly committed to the propagation, preservation and promotion of the culture and heritage of the people of Lagos State.
He posited that a clear demonstration of this resolve was the inclusion of the Entertainment and Tourism Sector in the state’s development agenda, stressing that improvement in the entertainment and tourism sector will have a positive effect on the Lagos economy through the creation of more jobs and improvement in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amongst others.
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, emphasised that he is willing to collaborate with individuals, Government Agencies, Arts and Culture organizations and corporate bodies with ideas and initiatives aimed at promoting the rich culture and heritage of Lagos for the economic growth and development of the State.
The governor observed that culture and heritage is the only sector where Nigerians remain the main drivers without the need for foreign experts or technology, adding that the sector has the capacity to generate massive economic benefits for the nation which could be harnessed in the shortest possible time for quick economic gains.
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