Federal Government has been advised to promote and develop the Nigerian entertainment industry to boost its revenue generation.

A United Kingdom- based Nigerian artiste, Mr Busayo Osakuade, who gave the advice, said the industry has the proclivity of propelling the country’s foreign earnings that can help in turning around the country’s debilitating economy.

The Afao-Ekiti born afro beat star also said many Nigeria youths engaging in internet fraud and other criminal activities could have been gainfully engaged in entertainment, if government has made the sector attractive.

The Mechanical Engineer-turned musician spoke in Ado Ekiti during an interactive session with journalists on how best to develop the Nigeria’s entertainment industry to discover talents and nurture them to stardom.

According to him, “Nigerian government should find a platform to bring out more entertainers especially upcoming artistes. Music is fast becoming one of our best exports and with the online streaming avenue, Nigerians can actually earn money in dollars and export their music.

“Internet fraud shouldn’t be an alternative to our youths. We should create enabling environment for them in music, because many of our youths are greatly gifted and the government should encourage them through sponsorship and tackling of piracy to boost the industry”, he said.

Speaking about the decadence in the sector, Osakuade expressed displeasure on how some artistes were not honouring their contracts with record labels.

He stated that the judicial system is also causing indulgence in breach of contracts, as it takes an awful long time to entertain cases emanating from such criminal act.

The artiste said he was making good exploits in music in US despite his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ekiti State University and Post Graduate degree in Renewable Energy from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.

“I have been singing all my life, but I took it up as a career about four years ago . Financial incapability and inability to secure a record deal caused the delay in going into full time music career.

“I listened to dancehall as a kid Shakademus and Pliers, Shaba Ranks, Buju Banton among others were inspiring me.Then in Nigeria, the likes of 2face & Remedies hit the stage, hence, the Nigerian version of dancehall gave birth to the current afrobeats. Basically, afrobeats became my favourite genre of music.

“Music-wise, Michael Jackson, The Lighthouse Family, Seal and a few others are my role models.”