How I brought Wizkid, Ice Prince, Wande Coal for N250,000 13 years ago – Bolanle Austen-Peters

Bolanle Austen-Peters has stated that in 2010, she paid N250,000 to get Afrobeats artists Wizkid, Ice Prince, Wande Coal, and one more to her event.

Speaking at The Covenant Nation’s non-political and non-partisan national development fair Platform on Monday, she noted that the story is not the same today as she hailed the Nigerian youths for transforming their talents into wealth.

The award-winning movie director/producer said it is about time Nigeria looked away from oil wealth and focuse on innovation and knowledge acquisition as the next wealth creator for the country just like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) did. She said the future is no longer about natural resources.

“Today if UAE can move away from oil wealth, what are we doing as Nigeria? In the last presentation that I had here a couple of years ago, I talked about the potential of the creative industry to transform Nigeria’s wealth, economy and in less than five years the reality before us is that it is technology, creativity, and the arts that is putting is putting Nigeria on the global stage.

“It is our youth in technology, creativity, and arts that are selling the Nigerian brand today,” she said.

“I remember 13 years ago, I had a party and I invited Mohits crew. I’m sure some of you know them. They came with four artistes, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Wande Coal, and one more person. Guess how much I paid 13 years ago, N250,000 for all of them?

“Today, I dare not even ask that they come and play for me. The beauty of our youths is that they have been able to transform their talents into wealth and that is something that is commendable and that we all need to start understanding.”

She added that a couple of years ago, many people didn’t rate Nigerian movies but the story is different today, noting that Nigerian movies that were being acquired with peanuts are being acquired with millions of dollars.