Lagos: The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace, has emphasized the vital role of the creative industry in driving national development. He noted that the sector serves not only as a platform for cultural expression but also as a powerful catalyst for economic growth, youth empowerment, and national rebranding.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Ndace made this known while serving as the Special Guest of Honour at the flagship launch of ‘Beyond the Slate’ in Lagos on Friday. The event, themed ‘Beyond Entertainment: The Economic Power of Creativity,’ brought together key stakeholders committed to elevating Nigeria’s creative landscape. ‘Beyond the Slate’ is an initiative focused on empowering emerging creatives and innovators, with a strong commitment to youth development and the growth of the creative ecosystem in Africa. VON has partnered with the organization to build sustainable structures for creatives across the continent.
Represented by his Special Assistant, Banyinorim Agbo, Mr. Ndace highlighted that the economic power of creativity captures the essence of a fast-evolving global economy where ideas, talent, and innovation have become key drivers of sustainable growth. “As Nigeria continues to diversify its economy, the creative sector stands as one of the most promising frontiers for investment, job creation, and global visibility,” he said.
The DG also commended the ‘Beyond the Slate’ team for providing a bridge between academic learning and professional practice in the creative ecosystem. “Your commitment to nurture the next generation of storytellers, filmmakers, and media professionals is a worthy investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Speaking on the brand ‘Beyond the Slate,’ the founder of the initiative, Nsidabe Abassi, stated that the purpose of the initiative is to educate and empower students in the creative department to see more potential in what they studied. She emphasized the need to change the perception of theater arts as solely performance-oriented, highlighting managerial, administrative, and creative aspects within the field.
Mrs. Abassi also mentioned that they are open to support and collaboration from schools and cooperative organizations. “This is a flagship launch for everyone to know that this is what we do, and set the foundation straight. Next year is the empowerment program. Six weeks training, the mentorship, the guidance, the transition program starts fully next year. So, I’m calling on brands, I’m calling on schools, theater arts bodies to support this vision because it is time for us to shine light on different areas that we can actually explore beyond performance in theater arts departments,” she added.
The event featured young creatives in areas such as filmmaking, fashion designing, and acting, who engaged in discussions about their transition into the industry.