Kalthume Bulama Gana: Artistic Director/CEO Of National Troupe Of Nigeria

Only a few Nigerians have combined artistic excellence, cultural administration and public service as effectively as Kalthume Bulama Gana.

This pioneering visual artist made history in 2024 when she was appointed as the first woman artistic director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

With a career spanning four decades, Gana has emerged as one of Nigeria’s foremost advocates of cultural preservation, artistic innovation and women empowerment.

Born in Kano State, she hails from Yobe State. She developed an early passion for the visual arts and studied Fine Arts at Ahmadu Bello University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Painting in 1985 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1990.

She undertook advanced studies in Islamic Arts at Mimar Sinan University, deepening her expertise in murals, mosaics and traditional Islamic artistic expressions.

Records at the National Troupe of Nigeria showed that her professional journey began during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) when she served as a television programme presenter and graphic artist at Kano State Television (CTV67) between 1985 and 1986.

In 1987, she joined the Kano State History and Culture Bureau as assistant director in the Creative Arts Department, where she promoted indigenous arts and cultural heritage.

Gana proceeded to the National Gallery of Art, where she served as curator of the Kano Gallery before she became zonal coordinator for the North-West.

In these roles, she introduced children’s art competitions, promoted emerging artists and strengthened collaboration with the Society of Nigerian Artists.

In LinkedIn, she is identified as a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists (FSNA). Gana has participated in more than 45 solo and group exhibitions across Nigeria, Europe, Asia and North America. Her works have been displayed in institutions including the British Council, Alliance Française, the British Museum and the United Nations Office in Vienna. Among her most celebrated public works is the Kano Golden Jubilee Monument, commissioned to commemorate the state’s 50th anniversary.

Gana has also distinguished herself as a humanitarian. She founded the Herwa Heart of Art Initiative, a non-profit organisation that uses art therapy and vocational training to rehabilitate women and children affected by insurgency in North-East Nigeria. Through the initiative, she has demonstrated that art can be a powerful instrument for healing, empowerment and social inclusion.

Her appointment in January 2024 as artistic director and CEO of the National Troupe of Nigeria marked a watershed in the country’s cultural history. As the institution’s first female chief executive, she has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda aimed at modernising Nigeria’s foremost performing arts institution. Under her leadership, the troupe has embraced digital innovation, introduced technology-driven performances and expanded Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy on the global stage, including acclaimed performances at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Her contributions have attracted numerous honours, including the Outstanding Leadership Award in Arts, Culture and Women’s Empowerment presented by the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü in 2025. She is also recognised as a Global Arts in Medicine Fellow, reflecting her belief that creativity can contribute to health, healing and national development.