Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has sparked reactions online after asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide financial support to him and other Nigerian entertainers.
The rapper made the request while reacting to a post by President Tinubu about his recent meeting with French businessman Vincent Bolloré in Paris.
Tinubu met Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group on September 18 to discuss expanding the group’s investments in Nigeria, including in the film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and digital economy sectors. The State House said the discussions also focused on local production, investment and job creation within Nigeria’s creative economy.
Odumodublvck asks Tinubu to support artists
READ ALSO: Paris Jackson Faces Major Legal Fee Fight With Michael Jackson Estate
Reacting to the president’s post about the meeting, Odumodublvck called on Tinubu to go beyond expressing pride in the achievements of Nigerian entertainers and provide direct financial assistance to artists.
The rapper suggested that government funding could help artists manage relationships with record labels while also providing opportunities for emerging musicians.
He wrote:
“Baba come give boys advance from government funds. Na you go be the biggest label boss. Because of you, artists no go fight their labels and underground artists go see something.”
Odumodublvck continued:
“Baba, come sign all of us. And I mean all of us.”
His comments quickly attracted attention on social media, with users discussing whether government funding should play a larger role in supporting Nigeria’s music and entertainment industry.
Tinubu meets Bolloré over creative economy
Odumodublvck’s comments came shortly after Tinubu’s meeting with Vincent Bolloré in Paris.
According to the State House, Bolloré Group confirmed plans to deepen the localisation of its operations in Nigeria across film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and related sectors.
The group has interests in businesses including Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s growing global cultural influence presents an opportunity to attract more production, investment and jobs to the country.
The president also said his administration wanted more of the value created by Nigerian talent to remain in Nigeria through increased local production, investment in industries and infrastructure, and job creation.
It was in response to this discussion about the country’s creative industry that Odumodublvck made his request for government-backed financial support.
Odumodublvck calls for support for emerging artists
The rapper’s reference to “underground artists” highlighted one of the issues frequently discussed within Nigeria’s music industry: access to funding and opportunities for emerging talent.
Odumodublvck’s proposal appeared to suggest that government-backed financing could provide artists with resources to develop their careers while reducing some of the financial pressures associated with music production and record deals.
However, his comments did not amount to a formal government funding proposal, and there has been no announcement from the Federal Government indicating that Tinubu plans to provide the type of artist financing suggested in his post.
The State House’s announcement instead focused on investment by the Bolloré Group and broader efforts to expand Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
Mixed reactions online
Odumodublvck’s remarks have generated different reactions among social media users.
Some users welcomed the idea of greater financial support for Nigerian entertainers, particularly emerging artists who may struggle to access capital for recording, promotion and other aspects of their careers.
Others questioned whether direct government funding should be used to support individual musicians and entertainers.
The debate also comes amid wider discussions about the economic importance of Nigeria’s creative industries and their growing international reach.
Nigeria’s entertainment industry seeks more investment
The music and entertainment industries have become increasingly important parts of Nigeria’s global cultural identity.
Afrobeats artists now have large international audiences, while Nigerian films, fashion and other forms of creative content continue to attract global attention.
The Federal Government has also increasingly highlighted the creative economy as an area capable of generating employment, investment and foreign exchange.
Tinubu said during his meeting with Bolloré that Nigeria was experiencing a significant cultural moment and that the country needed to convert its global cultural influence into lasting economic value for Nigerians.
For Odumodublvck, however, the immediate issue is financial access for artists.
His direct appeal to the president has now added another voice to the conversation about how government, private investors and industry stakeholders can support Nigeria’s growing creative sector.
State House – Tinubu meets Vincent Bolloré on Nigeria’s creative and digital economy
