Veteran Nigerian rapper Jude Abaga, known as M.I, revealed in a recent episode of the 'So Nigerian' podcast that a significant portion of funding for Nigeria’s music industry comes from internet fraudsters and foreign sources. He described this as a national indictment, highlighting a worrying reality where talented Nigerian musicians rely heavily on money from the West and fraudulent activities rather than legitimate and sustainable support within the country.
M.I emphasized that this situation reflects systemic issues in how the creative sector is funded and managed in Nigeria. He urged wealthy Nigerians to improve funding and support for the industry so that young artists do not have to depend on questionable sources.
The rapper pointed out that currently, young people primarily support other young musicians financially due to the lack of sufficient backing from established wealthy individuals and the Nigerian system.
This statement adds to ongoing concerns about the deep connections between internet fraud and the entertainment sector, calling for reforms and better financial support for Nigeria's creative talents.