LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT EMBRACES NOLLYINSURED INITIATIVE

By Perekeme Odon

A milestone was initiated on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, when a delegation from NollyINSURED INITIATIVE paid a courtesy visit to the Hon. Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture; Mr. Steve Ayorinde at his Alausa office.

Leading the delegation, Mr Fred Amata, the Chairman of the Governing Board and President, Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN) thanked the Hon. Commissioner and his team for the warm reception. He enlightened the commissioner the reason and concept behind the initiative; NollyINSURED which was launched on July 13, 2017 and started operation on February 5, 2018 for the benefit of the creative industry practitioners.

L-R: Mr Fola Adeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Aramide Giwanson, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Mr. Fred Amata, President, Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN)

Speaking further, Mr. Amata said “NollyINSURED was created to provide quality and affordable healthcare, life / general insurance and pension for creative practitioners across boundaries in Nigeria. So it is in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of NollyINSURED that the delegation decided to pay a visit, seeking full support and participation of the government of Lagos State”.

Mr Amata sought the government's assistance in legislating a law that provides for protection of practitioners through a robust welfare scheme, making it mandatory that every production practitioner (television, film, radio, theatre) provides the needed health insurance package for cast and crew.

Mr. Mathias Obahiagbon Addressing The Sextion

The Hon. Commissioner, Mr. Steve Ayorinde expressed his appreciation that some of the sections in the creative industry could set aside their ego and usual bickering to establish such laudable concept like the NollyINSURED INITIATIVE.

L-R: Mr Fola Adeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Aramide Giwanson, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture, Mr. Fred Amata, President, Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN) Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Mr. Matthias Obahiagbon; Executive Secretary (NollyINSURED INITIATIVE)

The Hon. Commissioner made a firm statement to say “the government will support such progressively inclusive initiative of the creative industry, hoping that as many others as possible should be a part of the scheme”. He furthermore requested to have details of the event once a new date has been fixed after the sudden postponement of the earlier scheduled NollyINSURED week due to the forthcoming Sallah holiday.

In attendance with the Hon. Commissioner at the meeting are; Mr Fola Adeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Aramide Giwanson, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture and other government personnel.

Members of the NollyINSURED delegation are: Yinka Oduniyi; President (ITPAN), Emeka Aduah; Chairman (FVPMAN Lagos State) and his Secretary; Anthony, Ms. Ngozi Ogbonna; President (AVOA), Chimobi Nwosu; National Secretary (CSN) Makinde Adeniran, Chairman (NANTAP Lagos State), Uzo Okafor (Leadway Pensure) and Matthias Obahiagbon; Executive Secretary (NollyINSURED INITIATIVE