Gombe ready to harness gains of Arts- Deputy Gov
By Jack Tasha
Gombe state Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau has expressed government’s readiness to partner National Gallery of Arts towards harnessing the rich cultural heritage embedded in the sector.
Jatau expressed government’s position, on Thursday, when he received in audience officials of the National Gallery of Arts, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in his office on a courtesy visit.
He noted with great emphasis the need for the administration to explore the inherent arts and cultural values as a means of diversifying the economy in view of the need to provide alternative means of income.
He described the visit of the Officials of the National Arts Gallery to Gombe State as the right step in the right direction as it provides opportunity for collaboration in revamping the cultural sector towards socioeconomic development.
Jatau informed the delegation that the Gombe Ten-Year Development Plan has aptly captured the place of arts and culture and its planned projections from 2021-2030 assuring them of the administration’s commitment to collaborate by way of learning, listening and doing everything possible to ensure successful implementation of the plan.
He said, “If properly implemented the plan would help in reducing unemployment, boost agricultural and economic activities and enhance the general livelihood of the Gombe State people.”
The Deputy Governor appreciated the siting of the Northeast Zonal Office of the National Gallery of Arts in Gombe, pledging to expedite approval of the Certificate of Occupancy for the piece of land already allocated to them and assist in anyway possible for smooth take off of the zonal office.
Speaking earlier, the Director General National Gallery of Arts, Federal Ministry of Information andCulture Mr. Ibeten Ivara revealed that galleries and museums have demonstrated ample capacity to stimulate economic activities through economic empowerment, job creation and income generation for the government and people.
He said, the National Gallery of Arts has an office in the state, and that the visit was to appreciate the contributions of the Governor towards establishment of the office, describing the development as a major stride in the promotion of the creative arts sub sector of the Nigerian economy and Gombe state in particular.
He appealed to the government to kindly approve a temporary office building to site the North East Zonal Office pending when they will have adequate budgetary provision for the NGA to build a befitting office accommodation.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the visit, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Mr. Julius Ishaya Lapes said the arts and cultural sector has been untapped, inspite of its potentiality to economic development.
The commissioner also noted the importance of the sector to provide an avenue for diversification towards socio-economic development, describing the visit by the National Gallery of Arts as a welcome development to Gombe state.
Jack Tasha, Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity to Gombe State Deputy Governor.
