Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa

THE total number of local and foreign companies exempted from remitting tax revenue to government coffers increased to 105 as of December 2024, this newspaper gathered. Dangote Fertilisers, BUA, Mikano International Limited, and 102 others are included in this list. This came amid uncertainties over the programme’s effectiveness and the government’s announced plan to discontinue the policy as part of a broader strategy to boost its dwindling revenue base. The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, approved tax holidays for 22 new companies under the Pioneer Status Incentive scheme, raising the total number of beneficiaries to 105 in…

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.…

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…

BARRISTER Hannatu Musa Musawa is deeply saddened by the death of Pope Francis, whose death occurred early Easter Monday. The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy said the Pontiff’s life transcended the Vatican and religion, touching hearts globally. Musawa described Pope Francis as a champion of peace, unity, and reconciliation, noting his efforts to bridge gaps between warring nations and religions. “I mourn the loss of a global leader who embodied compassion, humility, and a commitment to social justice. Pope Francis’s unwavering dedication to the marginalized and his call for a more inclusive world inspired countless individuals.…

THE President and Founder of MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has handed over a 7-story building to the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) to be used as its Head Office in Kano. The President of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Israr, formally handed over the building to Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, the Managing Director/ COE of NWDC on behalf of Prof. Gwarzo at a brief ceremony on Friday, April 18, 2025. He said the 7-story building, located at No.16c Murtala Mohammed Way, Kano, would serve as NWDC temporary Head office. Prof. Gwarzo said the…

THE Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE) has announced a landmark three-year partnership with Chocolate City Group, one of Nigeria’s leading media and entertainment companies, to transform the country’s creative economy. A Memorandum of Understanding signed on Thursday in Abuja will focus on developing small-scale live arenas nationwide, identifying and nurturing talent, creating global distribution channels for Nigerian content, and strengthening intellectual property frameworks. The strategic alliance brings together government vision and private sector expertise to develop Nigeria’s creative industries, with special focus on music, content creation, and live events infrastructure. Speaking at the signing…

THE Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed its readiness to host the 68th meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja. Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa, gave the assurance when a two-man team from the United Nations Tourism Commission for Africa, (CAF) paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja on Tuesday. The Minister said during her preliminary meeting with the team that the mission is a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and drive the shared vision of tourism for sustainable development across the African continent. Musawa added that Nigeria will showcase…

IN a groundbreaking development for Nigeria’s Industrial transformation, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, commissioned the first phase of an advanced Onion Storage Processing Plant in Kano. This state-of-the-art facility, owned by Prism Foods Limited, boasts a storage capacity of over 10,000 metric tons and represents an investment of ₦10 billion. Currently employing approximately 200 people, the plant is poised to revolutionise onion storage and processing in West Africa. According to Prism Foods Limited CEO Aman Gupta, the storage facility has a power-generating plant with an expanded capacity of 240 tons and employs advanced temperature control…

THE Republic of Tunisia has expressed interest in establishing cultural and tourism relations with Nigeria. His Excellency Moshen Antit, Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, in Abuja on Monday. Ambassador Antit highlighted the potential for collaboration in cultural exchanges and medical tourism between the two countries. He noted that Tunisia boasts advanced medical facilities and expertise, making it an attractive destination for medical tourism in Africa. “Tunisia is known for its rich history and architecture which makes it a potential…

A DAY-OLD-BABY has been abandoned in Jikoko community, located in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory. The baby was said to have been found in a carton, wrapped in cloth, and dumped along a bush path near a poultry farm in the community. Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, a resident of the area who identified himself as Aliyu said the discovery shocked the community. “We woke up to the sight of a day-old baby kept in a carton. “The carton was placed along a bush path close to a poultry farm in Jikoko. The police were notified,…

THE Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has congratulated Nigeria’s film director Akinola Davies Jr. for scripting and directing Nigeria’s first movie ever to make it to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in nearly 80years. ‘My Father’s Shadow’, set in Lagos in the aftermath of the 1993 Presidential election was officially announced on Thursday by organizers to compete at the prestigious Cannes Film festival billed for May 13- 24, 2025. The movie will screen at the ‘Un Certain Regard’ strand, a prominent section within the Cannes Film Festival’s official selection that showcases films by…

To Be Replicated Across 36 States Of The Federation THE Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has officially flagged off the Renewed Hope Cultural Project in Katsina State, signaling the beginning of a transformative initiative to revitalize Nigeria’s cultural heritage and creative economy. The project, which is set to be replicated across all 36 states of the federation, is designed to promote and preserve Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage by showcasing its diversity and unlocking the tourism potential of local communities. Central to the initiative is the establishment of Renewed Hope Cultural Villages—comprising…

THE Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy (FMACTCE) has taken a significant step towards strengthening inter-ministerial coordination and advancing data-informed governance through its collaboration with Big Win Philanthropy. An Inter-Ministerial roundtable, attended by partner ministries in Education, Youth Development , key stakeholders, and Big Win, resulted in an agreement to align efforts and enhance inter-agency collaboration. A key outcome of the meeting was the development and sharing of the D30 Data Platform and Mapping, expected to drive data-led initiatives and deliver measurable results. Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa re-emphasized her commitment to transforming Nigeria’s creative economy through an…

MINISTER of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has congratulated the newly coronated  Alaafin of Oyo , His Majesty Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, on his ascension to the throne as the 46th Alaafin. In her congratulatory message, the Minister acknowledged the significance of the coronation and staff of office which  represents the pinnacle of traditional leadership and cultural heritage in Yorubaland. She prayed for wisdom as well as a long and fruitful reign. “I send my warmest felicitations to His Majesty, the new Alaafin of Oyo on his ascension to the revered throne. “This significant milestone…

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that improving the rate at which children are breastfed exclusively for the first six months can save the lives of 520,000 children in the next 10 years. The Chief Nutrition Officer of UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, stated this in a goodwill message at a Community Dialogue on Zero Water, Exclusive Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) advocacy and sensitisation programme organised by the wife of Cross River State governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu through her NGO, Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative in collaboration with the state Primary Health…

THE Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Futuretech to promote Nigeria’s cultural products and creative talent globally through the ‘Destination 2030; Nigeria Everywhere’ initiative. The MoU outlines a comprehensive collaboration framework focusing on strategic planning, global communications and creative leadership including stakeholder engagement and events activation. Under the agreement, Futuretech will serve as the brand custodian for the Destination 2030; Nigeria Everywhere initiative, ensuring consistency in messaging and brand integrity across all platforms. At the MOU signing, the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa,…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the petition to recall the Senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has not met requirements. In a terse statement on Thursday, the electoral commission said the petition did not meet the requirements of the constitution. “The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” INEC wrote on its X handle. In an updated statement, INEC cited Section 69(a) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a petition to recall…

NIGERIA Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said henceforth it will suspend, fine and carry out other regulatory actions against foreign airlines who sell tickets to passengers only to airlift them halfway their destinations and deport them back to Nigeria. It stated that it had received several complaints about the issue that has caused pain to travellers. The NCAA, in a statement, said these actions, which involve the refusal of boarding/entry of intermediate/ transit stops to some Nigerians due to visa/travel restrictions, are causing significant distress to passengers and tarnishing the reputation of the aviation industry in Nigeria. The statement signed…

THE Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa has expressed gratitude to Arise Group for recognising 65 Women Making Impact and has praised Nigerian women for breaking gender barriers. Musawa made this known at a gala night held at Eko Hotel, Lagos on Monday, to honour a remarkable group of Nigerian women to mark International Women’s Month. Receiving her award from former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Minister Miusawa emphasized the strength and resilience of women, citing their ability to be both sensitive and courageous. Musawa hoped that her achievement would inspire young girls across Nigeria…

THE fate of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, will be determined within the next 90 days, this newspaper gathered on Monday. Constituents from her senatorial district had last week submitted a recall petition against her to the Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC is currently in the process of verifying the signatures submitted by petitioners. To proceed with the recall, the petition must be signed by more than half of the registered voters in the Kogi Central District. If this requirement is met, the commission will conduct a referendum within 90 days from the petition’s receipt. According…