Women group demands better deal for culture sector

The Congress of Women in Cultural Industries (CWICI) in its first meeting in Lagos last week at the Conference Room of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), National Theatre Annex, Lagos, expressed their concerns over the treatment of women in arts and culture.

The participants also observed that the political leadership and social elites have trampled on Nigeria's proud cultural assets over the years by promoting foreign cultural brands at the expense of local products to the detriment of the country's creative economy.

In a statement by the Corporate Affairs Officer, NICO, the Director of NICO Training School, Mrs. Brigitte Yerima, said that the newly formed Congress of Women in Cultural Industries (CWICI) is a veritable platform to create awareness on women activities in the culture sector

The women therefore agreed that the CWICI will not only seek to articulate varied and genuine concerns of women in culture but will aim to become the respected umbrella body with different categories of membership and a cogent voice for all women active in the cultural industries of Nigeria.

Dr. (Lady) Gloria Chuma-Ibe, a Director with Centre for Black African Arts & Civilization (CBAA), expressed her belief, during the meeting, that the newly formed body of women in culture will tremendously benefit women especially the younger generation of female culture stakeholders. This position by Chuma-Ibe was re-echoed by other participants drawn from the Federal and States Culture Agencies and culture based organizations at the directorate level.