Senate Charges National Troupe on Revenue Generation
By: Janet Samuel
The Senate has charged the National Troupe of Nigeria to adopt innovative ways of generating revenue through their arts and not rely only on government subventions to run their operations.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Olamilekan gave the charge at a meeting with the leadership of the National Troupe as part of the Committee’s investigative hearing on how agencies of government manage the revenue they generate.
Sen. Olamilekan expressed shock that the National Troupe which is under the Ministry of Information and Culture has spent over hundred million naira in it’s operations without generating a dime to government coffers.
Addressing Newsmen after the investigative public hearing, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe, Ahmed Ahmed acknowledged the shortcomings noted by the Lawmakers but stated that he has begun the revamping of the troupe not just in the area of revenue generation but in boosting national unity through arts.
While assuring that the national Troupe will live up to expectations in the days ahead, Ahmed Ahmed also enjoined the Federal Government to immediately resolve certain areas to enable the troupe meet her target.
The National Troupe of Nigeria is the official and foremost performing arts institution of the Federal Government established with the purpose of promoting, preserving and propagating the Nigerian Culture, through dance, drama, music and children/youth theatre.
