Fed Govt Targets 2m Jobs In Creative Industry By 2030

The federal government has set a target of creating two million jobs through Nigeria’s creative industry by 2030.

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, stated this at the closing of the 2026 Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre.

She said Kano’s rich creative heritage in indigo dyeing, leatherwork, weaving, embroidery and the Kannywood film industry could be leveraged to drive economic growth and create employment opportunities.

The minister urged creative practitioners to protect their intellectual property, professionalise their businesses and embrace digital platforms to expand their reach and unlock new opportunities.
Experts at the summit also called for improved access to funding, skills development and stronger government support for creative practitioners, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

The two-day summit, which began on Thursday and ended on Friday, was the first National Theatre Creative Summit to be held outside Lagos.

It brought together creative economy practitioners for sessions on access to funding, financial literacy, intellectual property and practical skills.

Speaking at the opening, the general manager and chief executive officer of the National Theatre (Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts), Tola Akerele, said the choice of Kano was deliberate.

Akerele said the summit was designed to decentralise access to the tools, knowledge and opportunities driving the creative economy and make them available to practitioners across the country.

She said Kano was selected in recognition of its significant contribution to Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly through Kannywood and its long-standing performing arts tradition.

The Kano State Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Aisha Lawan Saji Rano, who represented the state government, also highlighted the importance of the state’s cultural heritage.

She cited the Kofar Mata dye pits and the ancient city walls as examples of Kano’s rich heritage, which she said could be leveraged for economic development.

At a session on intellectual property, the chief strategic adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs to the Kaduna State governor and chairman of Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori, urged creatives to properly document their works to establish ownership and protect their rights.

Maikori said many creatives lose their rights because they fail to document their works before releasing them.

The founder of Madhouse by Tikera Africa, Bayo Omoboriowo, spoke on financial fitness and business structures, stressing the importance of sound financial management and proper business structures in attracting investors and accessing funding.

The founder and chief executive officer of Carpe Diem Solutions, Edward Israel-Ayide, advised creatives to build visibility around genuine expertise rather than self-promotion.

He said a strong reputation could open career opportunities even when practitioners were not physically present in decision-making spaces.

The summit was organised in partnership with the European Union, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) and the Kano State Government.

The initiative is part of efforts by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy to position the creative sector as a driver of economic growth and employment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.