Abia State Government has assured the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) of the State’s commitment to supporting the creative industry and harnessing the potentials of local talents.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, gave the assurance when he received the leadership of PMAN, led by its Governor, Chief Ejeh Williams, on a courtesy visit to Government House, Umuahia.
He commended the association for its goodwill, vision, and efforts in using music to drive social impact and preserve cultural values, describing the visit as both timely and long overdue.
“I must commend PMAN for the bold initiative and your dedication to uplifting young people through creative expression”, Pastor Ajagba said.
He also expressed optimism over the association’s proposal to establish a World-class Music Academy and Studio in the State and urged the group to submit a detailed framework, land requirements, and investor-ready documentation.
According to him, the State’s Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, in collaboration with the Abia Investment Promotion Agency, would work closely with PMAN to provide the necessary support for the project.
The Chief of Staff further called for better organisation among local artists to take advantage of emerging opportunities and warned against the dominance of external entertainers at the expense of homegrown talents.
Earlier in his remarks, the PMAN Governor, Chief Ejeh Williams, said the association was in the State to formally introduce itself to the government and lay down a development template aimed at transforming Abia into a music and creative hub.
“We are here to formally introduce PMAN to the government of Abia and to lay down our development template.
“We believe that a partnership between PMAN and the state government will yield tremendous benefits for the youths and the entertainment industry”, Chief Ejeh stated.
He disclosed that PMAN was planning to launch a “Talent Hunt” initiative in the state; an empowerment programme designed to discover and nurture local talent, while simultaneously curbing drug abuse and other social vices through constructive engagement.
The PMAN Governor also revealed that the association was working on plans to establish a World-class Music Academy and Recording Studio in Abia, with two investors already indicating readiness to fund the project once land is allocated.
“We are requesting just two hectares of land to build what we are calling the ‘Abia State Music House’, a talent development centre and modern music school that will attract investment and serve all 17 LGAs.
“It will also serve as a revenue-generating avenue for the government, as we are ready to remit a portion of our proceeds into the State’s coffers”, he added.
Chief Ejeh appealed to the State Government to prioritise local talents in state-sponsored entertainment events, noting that artists from within the state were often overlooked in favour of external performers, a trend he described as counterproductive.
“We have close to 25,000 musicians in Abia, both registered and unregistered, and many of them are highly talented and deserve to be empowered.
“When outsiders are brought in and paid large sums, it demoralises local artists. We believe these same funds can be used to empower our people”, he said.
He urged the government to see PMAN as a strategic partner in youth development, entertainment, and cultural promotion, stating that with the right support, Abia could become Nigeria’s leading destination for entertainment and music innovation.
