By Charles Ayodele
Nigerian flautist, Omatshola Iseli, popularly known as “Tee Mac”, has called on the new administration to create legislations capable of curbing the activities of movie pirates and illegal internet downloads.
Tee Mac with cross-cultural Itsekiri and Swiss roots made the call while speaking with the journalists in Lagos.
He said this was quite important to ensure musicians and actors yield full dividend of their labour as they continue to upload their creative contents on the Internet.
According to him, piracy and illegal downloading were criminal acts that must be checked if practitioners in the entertainment industry must be encouraged.
”The new administration have to begin to think outside the box to address the problem of illegal downloads and piracy which are serious issues disturbing the growth of the industry.
”Musicians must be assisted to earn from the internet. The Nigerian entertainment industry needs government support in diverse ways, some of which are in the area of giving grants and endowment fund for the art.
”Musicians and actors should be encouraged with tax incentives or waiver, they deserve this because they have helped in creating positive image of the nation worldwide,” he said.
Tee Mac noted that if the Nigerian entertainment industry is well positioned and supported, it is not only capable of engaging the youths positively but also boosting inflow of tourists.
According to him, increased tourists inflow will also boost foreign exchange earnings.
He called on the federal government to intensify efforts to ensure that nation’s security challenge is tackled for tourism thrive.