The Lagos State Government has affirmed that the journey to place the state as Africa’s entertainment hub continues in earnest by sustaining the great achievement of ‘Detty December’, which attracted over 1.2 million fans across Nigeria and the diaspora in 2024.
The revelation was made known to the new Clamp when the Commissioner of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka received Ghazi Shami, the founder of Empire Distribution, Records, and Publishing Company USA.
Noting that our entertainment industry also played a huge part in the success of ‘Detty December’, Benson-Awoyinka appreciated the contingents of Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Adekunle Gold, Seyi Vibez and many others.
Benson-Awoyinka disclosed his intention to make the next year’s edition more impactful as the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has set a vision of diversifying the state’s economy by propelling tourism-related industry.
The Commissioner also recognised the progress Lagos State has made over time in investing in the movie and creative industries but expressed that such an order structure is also required when it comes to the music business.
She laid down the vision to close existing gaps by undertaking projects like opening a music academy, conducting talent searches, and offering unique style and pattern courses.
“As much as Lagos has scored very high in the film and creative industry we acknowledge that the music segment needs more interference. The ultimate aim is to groom talents and produce a conveyor belt of professionals such as musicians, executives, lawyers, engineers etc to ensure that Lagos remains the world centre for music,” she said.
Shami also commended Lagos for exemplary performance and referred to Detty December as a luminous world stage for African success.
More like this
However, he said they realized a growing but unaddressed legal infrastructure for the Nigerian music market.
Some of the problems that accompany the development of the musical industry in Nigeria include the following: One of them is that there is inadequate legal talent in the Nigerian musical industry. This saddens me as young artists end up pulling heinous contracts over their heads on their behalf due to a lack of informed consent. This has often led to international lawyers dealing with contracts that the Nigerian practitioners should handle which in turn affects confidence level and expertise”, Shami found out.
He said the record industry required skilled staff with proper knowledge of obligatory record deals, royalty contracts, and intellectual property rights. For this problem, he urged the people to make partnerships.
During the interview, Shami said he was ready to partner with the Lagos State Government to address these gaps and to ensure that Nigerian artists pin down better deals and best representation.