Publisher seeks inclusion in Nigeria’s creative economy fund

Anwuli Ojogwu, CEO of Narrative Landscape Press, is advocating for trade publishing to be included in Nigeria’s Creative Economy Development Fund and other government initiatives. Ojogwu argues that publishers are crucial to developing intellectual property for various creative industries, including film and television. However, publishing was left out of both the Creative Economy Development Fund and a government mapping exercise.

The CEO contends that publishing's exclusion stems from the government's traditional classification of the sector as educational rather than commercial. Ojogwu emphasizes that trade publishing creates intellectual property that can be adapted into other media formats, making it essential to Nigeria's creative economy. She urges filmmakers to explore locally published literature for source material instead of solely focusing on Hollywood appeal.

Additionally, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency Director General, Yibo Koko, criticizes the government's approach to culture and the creative economy, arguing that they are often seen as "feel-good" activities rather than sources of sustainable economic value. Koko advocates for viewing culture as an economic toolkit and building structures that allow creative businesses and artists to monetize their work.