Laraba MUREY
The Federal Government has urged stakeholders to increase investment in Nigeria’s creative economy to drive jobs, growth, and global competitiveness.
In a statement by Special Adviser, Media & Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, spoke at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, stressing the sector’s potential to create millions of jobs and contribute more to the nation’s GDP.
Minister Musawa said the creative sector currently contributes 2.3% to national GDP and employs over 4.2 million people, citing successes in Nollywood, Nigerian fashion, and Afrobeats music. She called for financial incentives, better infrastructure, and regulatory support to attract both local and international investors.
She highlighted challenges such as limited access to funding and policy gaps, urging financial institutions to create tailored funding options for creatives and for stakeholders to invest in skills and infrastructure development.
“Together, we can build a future where creativity drives economic growth and cultural prosperity for Nigeria,” Minister Musawa said, quoting Omoyemi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion Week, on the importance of a sustainable creative ecosystem.
The summit, themed “Building Productive Sectors: Investing in the Creative Economy,” brought together investors, creative entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders to discuss strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s creative industries.
