Olusegun Runsewe, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)’s director-general, has urged the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) to use music to unite the country and make it a strong brand.

Mr Runsewe made the call when the PMAN’s executive members visited him in his office in Abuja on Monday. He urged them to use music to develop a strong brand that will unify Nigerians and musicians.

He stated that the association had a big role to play in spreading the message of unity and rekindle the hopes of Nigerians striving for a better future.

“The time is ripe for a strong collaboration between the NCAC and PMAN in developing and promoting a stronger Nigerian brand through music,” Mr Runsewe said.

He noted that in other parts of the world, music was an important tool to drive home people’s demands and get the attention of the government.

He reiterated the need for the association to remain focussed and create a platform for musicians across the country to have a unifying voice.

The NCAC boss urged the association to produce a Nigerian song that will unify all the different ethnic groups in the country. Mr Runsewe promised to look into the demands of the association.

He also promised to give the association adequate representation in the council programmes coming up later this year.

PMAN president, Pretty Okafor, said under the new leadership of the association, all musicians in the country had been duly registered and enjoying royalties through a partnership created with Zenith Bank.

He also disclosed that the association had secured a land in the Federal Capital Territory to build ‘Entertainment City’ and ‘Musicians Village’ to cater for the needs of PMAN’s members.

PMAN’s first vice president, Sunny Nneji, pleaded with Mr Runsewe to include the association in its COVID-19 parliatives.

(NAN)