Abia Government has established a creative hub to boost tourism, arts and culture sector in order to create a sustainable economy, an official said on Thursday.

Mr Obioma Ogbonna, the state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, made this known in Umuahia during an interactive session with stakeholders.

Ogbonna said that the initiative would be used to create a platform for connecting creative entrepreneurs.

He said that the creation of a creative hub would provide an avenue for the identification, development and marketing of the diverse cultural and tourism potential and stakeholders in Abia.

He said that the tourism, arts and culture sector is a powerful engine that could drive economic growth and development, adding that the state government was determined to explore the sector.

He urged stakeholders in the tourism, arts and culture industry to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the state government through the creative hub.

In his remark, Mr Ebere Iheanacho, the Chairman, Movie Producers Association, commended the state government for providing an opportunity for creative minds to brainstorm.

Iheanacho said he believed the initiative was a turning point for the state and expressed the hope that the objective of the programme would be realised.

In his remark, Mr Derek Obasi, a resource person, said that the government was building a hub where everything one needed to grow one’s enterprise in the sector was available.

“The idea is when the big corporate bodies come to develop any area of the creative industry in Abia, it will be easy to reach the creative entrepreneurs.”

In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some participants expressed delight with the new development and called for the sustenance of the programme.

Mr Chris Ubani, a participant, described the introduction of platform as a good move in the right direction.

Ubani urged stakeholders to make effective contributions to the efforts of the state government toward boosting tourism, arts and culture in Abia.

Another participant, who pleaded anonymity, said that the creation of the platform was a welcome development that would act as a catalyst in the economic growth of the state. (NAN)

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