By Eseoghene Emuke
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, says humility is key in the pursuit of any successful career.
He, therefore, charged Nigerian youths to wear a cap of humility as they continue to pursue and push for the peak of their career.
Bashorun, who spoke at the grand finale of DBS song of the year talent show, held on Friday in Warri, Delta State, noted that Lockdown BBNaija winner, Laycon, could not have won if not for the humility Nigerians spotted in him.
The DESOPADEC MD, who commended Nigerian youths especially youths in Delta for putting the state in the global map of entertainment and creative industry.
He observed that the industry could earn one billion dollars yearly if the nation’s budding talents were properly harnessed.
Bashorun Askia further disclosed that DESOPADEC, is in the process of setting up an Academy where youths will be trained to become experts at various skills.
“Again, this is an audience made up of young men and women that can earn up to $1 billion every year. That is the figure the entertainment and creative industry was expected to contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: Again, Gunmen Kill Mobile Policeman In Delta (See Photo)
“But man proposes, God disposes as the COVID-19 Pandemic practically shut down the entertainment industry. I don’t have to remind you of this as the event we are holding today was put on hold due to the devastating pandemic. You were directly and economically affected.
“What the data shows is that this venture by the management of DBS Warri is a worthwhile and laudable one. The Music Talent Hunt Show tagged DBS Warri Song of the Year is an enterprise that fits in perfectly with a market with limitless potentials.
“Nigerian music, especially the genre made by our enterprising young Deltans, have made significant inroad internationally. Music and comedy have fused to become one of Nigeria’s major export not just to Africa, but the entire global community.
“A PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Global entertainment and media outlook 2017 -2021 report says that the most rapid growth rates in Entertainment and Media (E&M) revenues over the coming five years will be in less-developed markets and economies.
“The report specifically lists Nigeria with a 12.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) as having the world’s fastest-growing E&M market over the coming five years. This is far ahead of most developed countries currently having an average of 2% CAGR. My dear friends, what the PwC report projects for Nigeria is in billions of dollars!
“That hundreds of you responded enthusiastically to this platform provided by DBS Warri shows the abundance of refreshing talent and energy from our young men and women.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Police Confirm Evwreni Attack As Soldiers Storm Delta Community
“You all here seated will agree with me that skills in the artisanal sector are going or have gone extinct. Such that we are now importing these skills from our neighbouring countries.
“I never imagined that one day we would be hiring masons (bricklayers) plumbers, tilers, mechanics, electricians, etc., from outside Nigeria. That is what is happening now and without knowing the far-reaching implications for our economy.
“I believe we must put up conscious efforts to encourage our youths to be fully engaged in this very vital sector of the economy. I can tell you confidently and boldly too, that there is more money to be made being a well-trained roadside mechanic or bricklayer or tiler than in some of these white-collar jobs that are even nonexistent.
“I am therefore very excited to use this opportunity to announce here that we are in the process of setting up THE DESOPADEC ACADEMY where our youths will be trained to become experts at various skills. We intend to make our youths to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour.”
