Creative Industry

Katsina Governor Pledges Support for Arts and Culture Ministry

Published

7 months ago

April 22, 2025

Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, has pledged his state’s support to the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in areas of culture and artifacts preservation.
Governor Radda made the pledge during a visit to Minister Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Governor expressed admiration for the Minister’s initiatives, stating that Nigeria has a rich cultural heritage and a lot to offer globally in art and culture. He commended the Ministry’s efforts in preserving and retrieving the state’s artifacts while pledging to support the Ministry’s laudable initiatives, which he said, are achievable.

Governor Radda highlighted Katsina State’s efforts in preserving its heritage sites, including the renovation of the Gobarau Minerate for N100m and a contract award of over N640m for the National Museum in Katsina. He stated that the Museum is currently in a dilapidated state, and the state government aims to give it a facelift.

“We are proud of you and willing to support your initiatives, which are achievable. There are a lot of potentials in this ministry, and a lot to showcase to the world. You have a lot of initiatives, and we will be here to support you and your ministry to succeed,” Governor Radda stated.

He emphasized the need to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage and monuments to boost the country’s image and export its culture globally. “Nigeria has very rich cultural heritages, but we don’t have what it takes to showcase them. Previous governments did not tap into the economic expansion of these heritage sites.”

The Governor also highlighted the massive potential of the creative industry in Nigeria, noting the abundance of young talents. However, he acknowledged the lack of amenities to utilize and showcase their talents.

In response, Minister Musawa expressed delight in the Governor’s visit, describing it as one of her highlights of being a minister. She stated that her priority is to ensure the diversification of the economy and explore the vast resources in the tourism industry.

“We hope to have an economic breakthrough in tourism because the income generation in tourism is so huge and yet untapped and uncultivated. We want to build on our heritage and traditions and those beautiful artifacts and cultures that we have to boost domestic tourism,” Minister Musawa said.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of supporting young talents, creating jobs, and stimulating economic expansion through the creative industry.

The Governor’s delegation included the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir; the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon Abdullahi A. Turaji; the State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua; the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Dr Faisal Umar Kaita; the Technical Assistant to the Governor, Dr Babangida Rimi; and the Director Innercore consultant on Culture, Musa Umar Yar’adua.

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Creative Industry

Musawa Highlights Art and Culture as Drivers of Public Sector Excellence at Legislative Mentorship Session

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., has emphasized the importance of integrating art and culture into public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the SA Media & Publicity, Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Phd.

Musawa made this known while addressing trainees at the 4th Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), held at the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja on Thursday.

Themed ‘Building the next generation of Public Sector Leaders’, Minister Musawa highlighted art and culture as essential tools for national cohesion and identity, economic development and job creation, innovation and civic engagement, sustainable development, and projecting Nigeria’s soft power and global identity.

She noted that Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage is a unifying force that binds different ethnicities and elaborated on how Art and Culture is key to public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

“First, embracing and promoting art and culture helps to forge national cohesion and shared identity among Nigeria’s diverse populations. Integrating culture into public policy and governance transforms the creative and cultural sectors into engines of economic development, job creation and diversification. Cultural industries including crafts, music, film, design, heritage tourism can generate livelihoods, attract investment, expand exports, and reduce overreliance on a narrow set of economic activities.

“A society that values creativity and cultural expression tends to produce more resourceful citizens, fosters cross-cultural dialogue, and encourages public servants to be more adaptive, empathetic, and culturally aware while prioritizing culture and creative economy in public policy through frameworks, institutions, and infrastructure, demonstrates long-term vision and commitment to sustainable development,” Musawa said.

The Minister called for supportive policies, enabling legislation, and sustained commitment to fulfill this vision, including laws that protect intellectual property, incentivize investment in creative infrastructure, and integrate arts and culture into education and community development.

“Embedding art and culture at the heart of governance and public-sector planning is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It builds unity, drives economic growth, fosters innovation, strengthens institutions, and ensures that development respects and reflects the soul of the nation,” she emphasized.

Musawa thanked the founder of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his inspiring vision and unwavering commitment to cultivating Nigeria’s future public-service leaders.

Other speakers at the Legislative Mentorship Initiative include the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization Aisha Augie, Nigerian photo-journalist and documentary photographer Bayo Omoboriowo, Amb. Dapo Oyewole, Secretary-General Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures amongst others.

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