During a recent interview with Channels Television, Ali Baba, the veteran stand-up comedian also known as Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, expressed his belief that Nigerian musicians have done a tremendous job in raising national awareness, surpassing even the country’s ambassadors.
Despite the significant contributions of entertainers to the nation, Ali Baba lamented the fact that the entertainment and creative industry were not included in the government’s economic plans.
According to him: “Two years ago, a forecast of the Nigerian economy in the next five years was looked into by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the entertainment and creative industry was not considered.
“A booklet of about 200 pages was done and the creative industry was not considered. The value of the creative industry in Nigeria is beyond the country.”
He said further: “Burna Boy has done a lot more for the Nigerian national awareness than any ambassador that have been posted to America, the UK or any other place. So Nigerian artists are creating national awareness and making other countries to know about us than any ambassador would have done.”
