By Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has outlined the remarkable progress made by the Ministry in under 18 months, highlighting major investments, infrastructure development, policy reforms, and Nigeria’s rising cultural influence on the global stage.

Speaking at the eighth edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Session held at the National Press Centre in Abuja, Musawa noted that the Ministry has become a vital driver of sustainable development and economic diversification. The event was also attended by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, and the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are transforming arts, culture, tourism, and the creative economy into engines of prosperity. Through strategic partnerships and visionary leadership, we are creating jobs, empowering youth, and diversifying the Nigerian economy,” she stated.

Musawa emphasized that the creative sector now stands at the forefront of Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy, evolving beyond cultural expression to become a strategic economic asset.
She recalled that on October 23, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu merged the former Ministries of Tourism and Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy to reduce government expenditure and enhance efficiency. The merger reflects the administration’s commitment to synergizing sectors for sustainable development, inclusive growth, and global cultural influence.

Key Initiatives and Achievements: “Data and Evidence-Based PlanningThe Ministry launched the D30 Data Initiative to map Nigeria’s creative economy. This initiative aims to inform policy, guide investments, and enable data-driven planning. In the music industry alone, five key value chain segments have been identified, with projections of creating over 500,000 new jobs by 2030. Mapping results are currently undergoing validation and will be published by June 2025.

“Policy Development and ReformWorking in partnership with stakeholders such as the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Ministry is overhauling outdated policies. New and revised frameworks include:

“National Policy on Intellectual Property RightsCreative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) approval, Review of the 1988 Cultural Policy and 2005 Tourism Policy, Transition from censorship to classification under the NFVCBMonetization and credit policies tailored to the creative sector

“Cultural Diplomacy and Global InfluenceUnder the Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere initiative launched at Davos, Nigeria’s global soft power ranking improved by 14 points within a year. Key international engagements include participation in the Cannes Film Festival and Venice Biennale. UNESCO also recognized cultural assets like the Sango Festival and Kano Durbar, with additional heritage sites inscribed under ICESCO and UNESCO frameworks.

“Economic Value and Investment MobilizationThe Ministry secured a $200 million investment from AFREXIM Bank for cultural and creative sector development. The Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) was launched with financing windows for debt, equity, and grants.

Collaborations with MOFI and FIRS are underway to monetize creative assets and ensure tax compliance. The Renewed Hope Cultural Project is revitalizing rural economies nationwide.
“Infrastructure Development: “The Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation (CTICo) has been approved with a $100 billion investment plan and a potential to create 2 million jobs. Key infrastructure projects include:

“Development of the Abuja Creative City on 26 hectares in partnership with Creative Park Ltd, Nationwide renovation of cultural villages and museums.

“A digital museum initiative in collaboration with IHS Nigeria and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Concessionary funding of €35 million from the French Treasury, recently expanded to €100 million”

Other achievement includes; “Strategic Partnerships: The Ministry has forged strong collaborations with private sector players like MTN and Chocolate City, international institutions including WIPO, AFREXIM, and MOFI, as well as foreign governments such as Brazil, France, and the UAE. Additionally, projects are being executed in partnership with state governments and traditional institutions under the Renewed Hope Cultural Project.

“And Sectoral Impacts: In the film industry, co-productions with France and South Africa have advanced, alongside reforms to protect intellectual property and improve working conditions. The tourism sector is gaining traction with Nigeria set to host the 68th UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja in June 2025. There are also creative empowerment programs specifically targeting women and youth, as well as efforts in cultural preservation through education and intergenerational skill transmission.” 

Despite the achievements, the Minister acknowledged ongoing challenges including:Funding constraints and limited distribution channels, Competition with globally produced, high-standard content, Inadequate infrastructure at tourism sites and Market fragmentation and lack of essential operational tools

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