Federal Gov’t Unveils Creative Economy Plans, Targets 10% GDP

The Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy (FMACCE) has unveiled plans to promote Nigeria’s culture and showcase its creators to the world, establishing the country as the leading global hub for arts, culture, and creativity.

This is even as the Ministry has developed a robust economic plan aimed at creating millions of jobs, supported by comprehensive skills training programs, in order to contribute 10 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), expanding sectoral GDP to $100 billion by 2030.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja during a roundtable, the minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said that with the theme “Destination 2030, Nigeria Everywhere”, Nigeria’s cultural influence should transcend borders.

Musawa said the Ministry was committed to making it a reality.

She said the Ministry has created a brand that will unite Nigerians across all initiatives as both its overall strategic direction and soft power initiative, adding that with every stroke of a brush, every note of music, every frame of film, and every innovative idea, Nigerians breathe life into the remarkable sector.

She said the creative industries are the heartbeat of the new economy, “serving as an engine of economic growth, a catalyst of change, and a generator of employment opportunities”.

She said: “In the past few months since I assumed the role of Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, my dedicated team and I have been working relentlessly on a multitude of initiatives across various workstreams. Our collective aim is singular, and it is bold: to position Nigeria as the world’s culture, creativity, and entertainment capital.

“We have since moved beyond mere interventions; we are now on a trajectory of transformation and acceleration in every facet of our creative sector. The creative industries are the heartbeat of the new economy, serving as an engine of economic growth, a catalyst of change, and a generator of employment opportunities. We are uniquely positioned in this great nation, endowed with an abundance of human capital and boundless possibilities.

“Our transformation team has delved deep into the very fabric of this sector, understanding its dynamics, sizing up the opportunities it presents, and benchmarking against model countries and sectors. We have engaged extensively with many of you in this room, the driving forces behind our creative industries.

“Today, we stand ready to share our vision for the creative sector, a vision that you may have glimpsed in the summary of our strategic blueprint published last month. Our vision is built upon five key pillars: A conducive environment, which encourages growth and investment, one which enables all players to participate fairly is the critical foundation we require. By protecting creative rights, intellectual property, and economic rights, we hope to send the right signal to our talents, investors, and the world that we are open for business.

“We are committed to a deep dive into every creative sub-sector, from the finest works of excellence to the realms of music and gaming. We understand the power of culture to unite and inspire, and we intend to harness it to the fullest.

“We have developed a robust economic plan aimed at creating millions of jobs, supported by comprehensive skills training programs. Our objective is to contribute 10 per cent to the Nation’s GDP expanding sectorial GDP to a remarkable $100 billion by the year 2030.

“Recognising the importance of the private sector, we are fostering greater participation and collaboration. We are shifting our focus from focusing on just financing to providing comprehensive ecosystem support to nurture and amplify your creative endeavours and businesses.

“We have created a brand that will unite us across all initiatives as both our overall strategic direction and our soft power initiative. Destination 2030, Nigeria Everywhere will promote our culture and showcase our creators to the world, establishing Nigeria as the leading global hub for arts, culture, and creativity. We believe that Nigeria’s cultural influence should transcend borders, and we are committed to making it a reality.

“As we embark on this transformative journey together, let us remember that each one of you, with your creativity and passion, is an indispensable part of this narrative. Our collective efforts will not only make Nigeria the world’s creative capital but also enrich the lives of our people and inspire generations to come.

“Thank you for your dedication, your brilliance, and your unwavering commitment to the creative soul of our great nation. Together, we shall write a new chapter of artistic excellence and creative innovation in Nigeria. This is Nigeria’s decade of creativity.”

Speaking earlier, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, said Nollywood actors like Ali Nuhu, Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Ini Edo, RMD, among others, have been helping to project Nigeria’s image at the international level, hence the determination of the federal government to support the creative industry to excel.

“The industries that produced the stars are products of sustained efforts. They built their empires with minimal support from the government. We’re here to apologize to you and to seek your support for projecting Nigeria’s image in positive light. One out of every black man in the creative industry is a Nigerian.

“I don’t know what would have become of Nigeria’s image without you. You’re the ones projecting our image to the world. So, we’re profoundly grateful as a government. The Black Box has broken a record on Netflix. Nigerians have been nominated for Grammy awards, among other achievements in the creative industry we’re grateful for,” he stated.