NIGERIA’s Creative Economy comprising 49 segments of entertainment, the arts, culture, tourism, music, theatrical arts, artifacts and museums, among others, has been identified as capable of contributing about $100 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and no fewer than two million jobs by 2030.
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, who said this at a media briefing, maintained that in more comprehensive terms, the ministry’s vision and plans for the country’s tourism and creative sectors, focuses essentially on the 2030 destination.
This is as she disclosed plans for the Abuja Creative City, the Wole Soyinka Centre, $200 million funding facility and repatriation of stolen Nigerian artifacts from foreign countries.
She further said her ministry is committed to developing Nigeria’s tourism, culture and creative economy sectors in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to promote economic growth, cultural enrichment and community empowerment through creation of jobs.
Speaking on the $200 million Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), she revealed that the fund, domiciled with the African Export-Import Bank (AfreximBank), will be deployed to support the growth and expansion of Nigeria’s creative sector, adding that the CEDF will provide affordable financing to creative businesses and entrepreneurs, driving innovation and job creation.
On the Abuja Creative City, Musawa highlighted the gains of the project, which she said, is aimed at transforming the capital city into a vibrant hub for creative industries. The initiative, she noted further, is expected to drive economic growth, create jobs, and showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
She also announced plans to upgrade the infrastructure at the Wole Soyinka Centre, describing it as a project dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Nobel laureate, which will serve as a cultural and intellectual hub, promoting arts, literature and critical thinking.
Speaking on the critical issue of repatriation of artifacts, she stressed the importance of repatriating Nigeria’s looted artifacts, currently housed in foreign museums, adding that there was the need for international cooperation to ensure the safe return of the cultural treasures, which are essential to Nigeria’s cultural heritage and identity.
On the 2030 destination vision, the minister emphasised the need for sustainable tourism practices, infrastructure development and community engagement, among other projects.
She urged local and international stakeholders to partner with the government in achieving the vision, which aims to position the country as a top tourist destination in Africa, insisting that the initiatives demonstrate a commitment to promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage, driving economic growth and empowering the creative industries.
She pointed out that the ministry also aims to use the power of arts and creativity to boost the economy, preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage, and share the country’s culture with the world.
