By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has identified Nigeria’s creative industry as the country’s second-largest source of employment. 
He made this known on Wednesday during the opening of a public hearing on a proposed law to establish the National Institute for Film and Media Technology in Ukawu. The event took place in Abuja.
Abbas, who was represented by Rep. Amos Magaji of the Zangon/Kataf/Jaba federal constituency, said the creative sector holds even greater potential, with projections indicating the capacity to generate up to 2.7 million new jobs by the year 2025.
He said: “I understand that the creative sector is the second-largest employer of labour in the country, and has the potential to create an additional 2.7 million jobs by 2025.
“This indicates that the creative economy worldwide contributes over 6.1 percent to global gross domestic product (GDP, averaging between 2 per cent and 7 per cent of national GDPs”.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that the proposed legislation was introduced by Rep. Nkem Kama, who represents the Ohanivo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State.
Speaker Abbas noted that the bill aligns with the broader goals of the House, especially in advancing reforms in technical education.
He emphasised the need to modernize learning systems so that students are better prepared with practical skills suited for the demands of today’s job market.
According to him, equipping young Nigerians in this way would position them to play a more active role in driving the country’s economic progress.
“We are committed to ensuring the integration of entrepreneurship modules in technical and vocational education curricula to enable students to go into private ventures and become self-employed”, he added.
The Speaker restated the commitment of the House to integrating fast-evolving fields like robotics, renewable energy, and other cutting-edge innovations into Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system.
He stressed the importance of not falling short in preparing young people for the future, ememphasising the urgency of embedding modern tools.particularly artificial intelligence into the nation’s training frameworks.
“We must not be found wanting in the fulfillment of our commitments.
“We would have failed if we did not provide our children with the opportunities that they need to achieve their purposes and become fulfilled as human beings.
“The world was already running away with Artificial Intelligence.
“We cannot be left behind. Education is the bedrock of development, and the need for educational institutions that will develop the skills of our people ought to have been addressed yesterday”, he stated.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Rep. Fatoba Olusola, restated the imperatives of investing on film and media sector.
Olusola said that the film and media sector had the capacity to take the youths out of the streets and boost the economy.
