Creative Industry
Russia Offers To Increase Scholarships For Nigerian Students From 220 As Part Of Bilaterial Cooperation
Joel Ajayi
The Russian Federation has offered to increase its annual scholarship quota for Nigerian students from 220 to a potentially higher number, pending collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Education.
The offer, which aims to explore areas of mutual interest in culture, was made on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting between the Russian Embassy and the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
Discussions centered on various areas, including youth development through creative industries, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa highlighted the importance of harnessing the country’s large youth population through the creative and cultural industries.
“Nigeria has a large youth population, with 70% under the age of 30. There is great need to harness their potential through the creative and cultural industries. We emphasize the use of culture and creativity to engage young people on global issues like youth employment and economic hardship, climate change, education and mental health challenges”, the minister said.
The Russia Federation, represented by H. E. Ambassador A.L. Podelyshev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Nigeria, invited Nigeria to participate in the Kazan Cultural Fair in November 2025, and proposed reviving a pending Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cultural cooperation, which was first proposed two years ago.
In addition, Ambassador Podelyshev expressed interest in promoting cultural exchange through an invitation of Nigerian cultural groups to Russia and Russian artists to Nigeria. He pledged Russia’s assistance in the preservation of Nigeria’s culture through technology.
“The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts seeks and proposes collaboration with Nigeria for joint theatre programs and training. It also proposes cooperation in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through digital technologies like 3D scanning and virtual reality”, the Ambassador stated.
The Ministry proposed adding creative economy and audiovisual co-productions to future bilateral agreements while both parties committed to taking concrete action, agreeing on the need for clear focal persons and timelines to ensure effective follow-up.
The Russian Embassy said it awaits concrete proposals from Nigeria on priority areas of cooperation, while expressing mutual willingness to move forward on the MOU and implement cultural, creative, and tourism-related projects.
Creative Industry
Musawa Highlights Art and Culture as Drivers of Public Sector Excellence at Legislative Mentorship Session
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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