The National Troupe of Nigeria, has called on Nigerian youths to explore potentials in the creative and entertainment industry for sustainable peace, economic productivity and nation building.
Its Artistic Director, Mr Ahmed Mohammed, gave this advice on Thursday night, at the National Unity Dance Challenge Programme in Abuja.
The programme organised by Drum Majors for Peace has as theme: “Exploring the Potentials of our Creative Resources in Nation Building”.
Mohammed said that the industry had guaranteed a peaceful future and increased the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Exploring the potentials that abound in the creative and entertainment industry for sustainable peace, economic productivity and nation building hold the key to a stable nation, guaranteed peaceful future and increased GDP,” he said.
According to him, dance holds much for the economy of Nigeria, but as a new entrant into Nigeria’s economic framework, it may require a forensic economic assessment to attract investors.
“It must go beyond past time engagement for majority of its practitioners.
“If it is able to put food on someone’s table, place a piece of cloth on someone’s back, rent a shed over someone’s head and someone’s total volume of responsibilities are taken care of, it automatically translates to economic productivity, guaranteed peace, and contribute a quota to nation building as a member of creative and entertainment sector,” he said
Mohammed expressed hope that the National Unity Dance Challenge would become one of the strategies towards achieving guaranteed peace for Nigeria.
Also, some participating artistes and dancers commended the organisers of the programme and said the event had gone a long way in boosting their talents.