The Ebonyi State Government has banned free movie shootings, unpaid productions, and the use of artistes without proper remuneration as part of efforts to sanitise and strengthen the state’s creative industry.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Stanley Ogbuewu, announced the directive on Tuesday while addressing entertainers and stakeholders at a Creative Industry Engagement Forum in Abakaliki.
Ogbuewu said the decision followed repeated complaints that unpaid productions had continued to undermine professionalism, discourage creativity, and limit the growth of the entertainment sector in the state.
He described entertainment as a powerful tool for shaping the mindset, attitudes, and behaviour of young people, stressing that practitioners must act responsibly given their influence in society.
The commissioner also urged established entertainers to deliberately mentor and support upcoming talents, noting that such collaboration was key to building a sustainable industry.
“Successful artistes must consciously support and mentor younger talents, as demonstrated by MC Walter, I Go Yarn, and a few others. This clearly shows unity within the industry and appreciation for government support,” he said.
Ogbuewu cited MC Walter’s efforts in taking upcoming artistes to perform in Lagos and Ghana as an example of genuine industry growth driven by mentorship and opportunity.
He encouraged entertainers to take advantage of the peaceful environment provided by the Ebonyi State Government to develop their careers and promote the industry positively.
The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the creative economy, assuring stakeholders that more policies and programmes would be introduced to promote culture, tourism, and the arts in the state.
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