Creative Industry

Creative Economy Key to Unlocking Katsina’s Climate Resilience – Minister Musawa

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has emphasized the critical role of the creative economy in addressing climate challenges and unlocking development opportunities in Katsina State.

Speaking at the Katsina State Climate Action and Green Investment Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister highlighted the state’s unique climate-related challenges, including desertification, water scarcity, and unpredictable rainfall, which threaten agriculture, livelihoods, and food security.

She stated that by embracing creativity and innovation, particularly through the power of the creative economy, Katsina State can unlock new pathways to sustainable development, job creation, and social progress.

The Minister outlined ways the creative economy can contribute to climate solutions, including raising awareness through art and media, developing sustainable fashion and textiles, promoting renewable energy solutions, and eco-tourism and cultural heritage tourism.

“The creative economy has the potential to be a powerful force in addressing some of our most pressing environmental issues.
One of the key roles of the creative industries is to educate and raise awareness. The power of storytelling, film, music, and visual arts can play a transformative role in communicating the urgency of climate action. Through documentaries, songs, performances, and visual art, we can engage communities, inform them about the risks posed by climate change, and inspire them to take action.”

Minister Musawa also said that developing sustainable fashion and textiles using eco-friendly materials and practices can reduce environmental degradation. She recommended leveraging eco-tourism and cultural heritage tourism to preserve natural resources and promote local culture.

“We can use our local textiles to create a fashion industry that not only celebrates our cultural identity but also helps combat climate change by reducing its environmental footprint.

“By investing in training and innovation in the fashion sector, we can create jobs for our youth, particularly women, and position Katsina as a leader in sustainable fashion in the country”.

She called for strong partnerships between government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities to implement solutions and urged all stakeholders to take up the challenge of climate change with creativity and passion, working together to build a sustainable future for Katsina State.

Addressing the State’s Climate Action and Green Investment Summit, the State Governor, H.E. Dr. Dikko Umar Radda highlighted the state’s climate challenges and opportunities. He emphasized the need for collective action to transform challenges into development opportunities.

The Governor showcased Katsina’s achievements in climate action, including irrigation projects, solar-powered boreholes, and tree planting initiatives. He also unveiled the Katsina State Green Growth Agenda (KAGGA), a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable development which focuses on four pillars; Climate-Smart Agriculture, Renewable Energy Leadership, Ecosystem Restoration, and Green Industrialization.

The Governor called for collaborative partnerships with investors, development partners, and communities to achieve KAGGA’s ambitious goals, including planting 10 million trees, establishing climate-resilient farming cooperatives, and promoting green industries. He emphasized the potential for job creation, economic growth, and a sustainable future for Katsina State.

“KAGGA is a roadmap to harmonize economic progress with ecological preservation. Through Climate Action Cooperatives, our administration will annually train 15,000 of our women and youth in green skills. From solar engineering to sustainable forestry, we will ensure no one is left behind. The green economy could create over 50,000 jobs in Katsina by 2030, and we are determined that our young people will be prepared to fill them”, the governor stated.

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Creative Industry

NTDA, LEXLUC Sign MoU to Unlock Nigeria’s Domestic Tourism Potential

Published

22 hours ago

October 23, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LEXLUC Global Services and Tours Ltd. to promote domestic tourism, cultural heritage and destination awareness across Nigeria.

The agreement establishes a framework for implementing and expanding the Meet My Town, Know My State tourism initiative, which aims to encourage Nigerians to explore destinations within the country, learn about their cultural heritage and support greater community participation in tourism.

Speaking at the signing, Chief Executive Officer of LEXLUC Global Services and Tours Ltd., Mr Oluwole Ajayi, said the initiative was developed to help Nigeria harness its tourism potential, attract investment and create more opportunities within the sector.

“Tourism is number one employer worldwide. Whether we like it or not, we have to key into it and make sure it becomes the number one employer in Nigeria, too,” Ajayi said.

He also referenced plans for a proposed West African Jollof Rice Championship and Tourism Festival, which he said could complement the initiative’s broader objectives. The proposed event is expected to form part of future tourism activities, subject to the necessary planning and approvals.

Ajayi expressed confidence that the collaboration with NTDA would help advance the initiative and attract investors to Nigeria’s tourism industry.

Director-General of NTDA, Mr Ola Awakan, said the partnership alignes with the authority’s mandate to promote and develop tourism, noting that collaboration with the private sector was important to the sector’s growth.

“It’s a laudable project. We are going to give you national and institutional backing. You are also helping us achieve our mandate, and we are helping you to bring your idea to fruition. So, it is a win-win situation. All of this is in the interest of Nigeria,” Awakan said.

He commended Ajayi for sustaining the initiative and reaffirmed NTDA’s commitment to supporting its objectives within the authority’s mandate.

The Meet My Town, Know My State initiative is designed to raise awareness of Nigeria’s destinations, promote cultural heritage and encourage domestic travel. Its activities may include organised tours, tourism education, awareness campaigns, events and stakeholder engagements across the country.

Under the MoU, LEXLUC will coordinate and implement approved activities, develop tourism packages, mobilise sponsorship and partnerships, and report on progress. NTDA will provide relevant tourism information, institutional coordination, policy guidance and support for stakeholder engagement, subject to its mandate and applicable approval processes.

The signing was coordinated by Head of Legal Services at NTDA, Olufunke Soleye, and Head of Legal at LEXLUC, Mary Oluwatoyin Noibi-Edoze. Director of the Marketing and Promotions Department at NTDA, Mr Olufemi Akinyele, was also present alongside staff members of the department.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the two organisations to expand awareness of Nigeria’s tourism offerings and encourage greater participation in domestic tourism.

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