An initiative aimed at addressing the identified skills gap in the creative industry, particularly in the area of Script Writing, Directing, Cinematography, Film Making, Fashion and Style, among others, has been unveiled by the Lagos State Government.

The programme, tagged Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI, was launched on Tuesday in Lagos at Ebony Life Place, Victoria Island, by the State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf.

LACI, according to the Commissioner, was coined by the Ministry as an umbrella for two major players in the creative industry, Del-York Creative Academy and Ebony Life Academy, who are in partnership with the State Government to hone the skills of members of the creative industry to international standards.

Akinbile-Yusuf said the programme is designed to train and empower creative individuals in the State to meet the demands of the present day realities.

Her words: “The initiative was borne out of a passion to reposition the creative industry in Lagos State; to maximise its potentials and to also project the State to the world through the creative industry”.

“LACI is here to stay and we believe the fourth industry revolution is underway, the one driven by the transformation power of the creative industries and it is a measure to ensure that Lagos State and her creative industry will always remain ahead of the game”, Akinbile-Yussuf said.

She disclosed that the launch of the initiative followed the completion of the selection process of 1,480 residents sponsored by the State Government to undergo training in any of the courses offered by the duo of Del-York Creative Academy and EbonyLife Academy.

Explaining that Ebonylife media will be taking the participants through physical classrooms (offline) and Del-York engaging the trainees online, the Commissioner expressed confidence in the ability of the two creative firms and described them as reputable institutions that can be reckoned with.

On the selection process for the beneficiaries of the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative (LACI) programmes slated to commence training in March 2021, Akinbile-Yussuf disclosed that the participants were selected in a transparent manner through the provided online platforms that had earlier been publicised.

Also speaking at the launching, Mo Abudu, the founder of Ebonylife Academy, commended the Lagos State Government for thinking ahead and empowering its citizens in the creative industry, stressing that this pioneer academy session will no doubt make Lagos a centre point for creative art.

Abudu also assured that the training offered is of international standard with seasoned facilitators slated to handle all the short courses in four modules, disclosing that the exercise is will last for 12 months with each module spanning three months.

According to the President of Del-York Creative Academy, Dr. Linus Idahosa, LACI will not only synergise talent, technology and career but will also ensure that all participants are globally positioned at the cutting edge of innovation in the short-term and years ahead while evolving local creative industries across multiple layers to transform the landscape.

Caption: The Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Tunji Seymour; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu; the Founder of EbonyLife Academy, Mo Abudu; the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Princess Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi and the President of Del-York Creative Academy, Dr. Linus Idahosa during the official launch of Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI, on Tuesday in Lagos at Ebony Life Place, Victoria Island.