FG Signs MoU With NESG To Drive Growth In Creative Sector

Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a framework for financing the creative industry’s growth.

The MoU which was signed in Abuja, aims to revitalize the sector, unlock its vast potential, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product of $100bn by 2030 and create two million jobs by 2027.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the minister, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, expressed optimism that this collaboration will unleash the full potential of Nigeria’s creative industry, transforming it into a significant contributor to the nation’s economy and a major revenue generator.

“Today, we take a bold step forward in fulfilling this mandate of the Ministry in partnership with NESG, a leading private sector-led think tank dedicated to transforming Nigeria into an open, sustainable, and globally competitive economy. Our collaboration with NESG is grounded in a clear set of objectives – to develop a robust governance structure for the art, culture, and creative industries.

“The ministry is pleased to build on the foundation laid in the draft Cultural Policy designed to promote cultural integration, preserve national values, and safeguard Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. This policy will articulate clear objectives and strategies to enhance cultural development, language preservation, historiography, and promote cultural diversity and inclusivity,” she said.

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Musawa said that the ministry and NESG have co-created a policy thrust for a comprehensive national policy on the creative economy, adding that this policy thrust will provide strategic direction, outline key objectives, and establish regulatory mechanisms to foster growth, innovation, and sustainability within the sector.

“Once approved, the policy will be pushed to the National Assembly for their assent to establish the Act that will create a Central Authority for Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy and establish a fund,  in alignment with the ministry’s  Key Performance Indicator (KPI) No. 2 which is to establish  and operationalize a central authority to catalyze and  coordinate the Arts, Culture, and  Creative  Economy from either a merger of existing parastatals in the Ministry or establishment of a new parastatal/Agency, as may be required,” she added.

Earlier, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s lead and chief executive, Dr Tayo Aduloju, described the MoU as a watershed moment in the history of the Nigerian creative industry. He emphasised that the Creative Economy Working Group will drive public-private dialogue on industry matters and facilitate stakeholder collaboration.

“The Creative Economy Working Group will serve as a stable platform for public-private dialogue, enabling swift decision-making on critical issues. We will facilitate collective engagement and effective stakeholder collaboration by fostering industrial associations within cultural and creative sectors.

“Through capacity-building initiatives, we aim to unlock Nigeria’s creative potential, driving entrepreneurship and employability among youth nationwide. Even policymakers and lawmakers will undertake study visits and experiential learning across different continents to improve governance framework.’’

In his remarks, Mr James Sule, the ministry’s permanent secretary, hailed the MoU as a landmark achievement in revitalizing the art, culture, and creative economy sector. He highlighted the partnership’s goals of fostering economic growth, showcasing homegrown talent, and attracting both local and international investment.

“The ministry looks forward to NESG’s assistance in reviewing extant policies, regulations, and legislative frameworks in the sectors and recommend amendment and/or enactment of laws, policies, and regulations for executive approval, especially as they affect the cultural and creative economy.