Will funding reach creatives?

While the initiative is framed as a step towards youth empowerment, there are serious questions about its likely effectiveness. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Duma Boko said, “We see your energy, we value your ideas, we admire your courage. Your talent, creativity, and innovative spirit stand at the very heart of our national renewal.”

He added that the government would “not dismiss your ideas but develop them, we will not ignore your aspirations but invest in them.” For a sector that has seen repeated pledges fall short, such statements are familiar but untested.