Edo State Governor and Sole Administrator of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Mr. Willy Eghe-Nova, has said that the music entertainment industry has the capacity to resolve the unemployment problem in Nigeria.
He made the observation in Benin City while speaking with TREND REPORTERS on his expectations from the government in the year 2024.
The PMAN governor pointed out that musicians in Edo State did well in the year 2023, as they went outside the country to perform more than in the previous year.
Eghe-Nova further stated that Edo musicians are proud of their cultural heritage, and they use the instrumentality of music to showcase it to the outside world.
He called on governments at all levels to invest more in the entertainment industry by providing soft loans to musicians to procure musical equipment.
“The government needs to do more in promoting arts and culture. As it is now, the government is putting money in other areas and neglecting the music industry.
“I am confident that music can increase our IGR,” he stated.
While observing that there are over ten thousand musicians in Edo State, the Edo PMAN sole administrator wondered how many people the music industry alone would employ if all the musicians had money to establish their bands.
Mr. Eghe-Nova remarked that the interest of the youth in the entertainment industry made it stand out as an avenue to generate job for the teeming youth
According to him, while the young ones are taking to crime and not willing to work, they can be easily employed in the entertainment industry, as most of them are interested in entertainment.
The entertainment industry stands out from other sources of employment as youth can easily be employed in the sector due to their interest in it.
