Nigeria Content Online

Gregory Odutayo, the president of the National
Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), on Saturday
urged the federal government to approve the long-awaited endowment fund
for theatre practitioners.

Mr. Odutayo told the News Agency of Nigeria in
Lagos that the fund would enhance the development of the theatre
industry and make it more vibrant in promoting Nigeria’s culture. He
said that NANTAP had earlier made a representation to government on the
need for such a fund, adding that the proposal then received a positive
response.

“It is only an endowment fund that can make the
theatre industry thrive well. No amount of money which the government
releases can strengthen the industry except an endowment fund because
the funding must have a structure in which the money will be given out
to the practitioners,” he said.

Mr. Odutayo, however, appealed to the government
to manage the fund for the artists for better efficiency whenever it
was approved. He said that NANTAP had been working assiduously to
ensure that the government established the fund, urging other
stakeholders to collaborate with the association to foster the
fulfillment of the aspiration. Mr. Odutayo said that the $200 million
fund, which the federal government recently announced for the art
industry, was already causing problems among the practitioners even
though they had not received the money.

“How this money will be distributed among the arts genres is what is causing problems,” he said.

Mr. Odutayo, nonetheless, said that until such a structure like the
endowment fund was put in place for the theatre profession, the
industry would continue to remain stagnant.