The Federal Government has flagged off the Renewed Hope Cultural Project in Katsina State, with the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, saying the initiative will empower local artisans, promote tourism, and create millions of jobs.
In a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Musawa said the project will be replicated in all 36 states and is aimed at reviving Nigeria’s cultural heritage and unlocking the creative economy at the grassroots.
“The Renewed Hope Cultural Project was conceived to harness the immense creative potential of Nigerians, ensuring the preservation of our history in its most authentic form,” Musawa said while speaking at the historic Ƙofa Ukkur Gate in Katsina. “This will drive local tourism, boost the economy, increase GDP contributions, and create job opportunities for millions nationwide.”
She praised the Katsina State Government for preserving cultural sites like the Gobarau Minaret, Radar Daurama, Kusugu Well, and Durbi Takusheyi, and urged other states to follow suit.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Rural and Social Development, Prof. Abdulhamid Ahmed, applauded the Minister’s efforts and said the state government will support the project fully.
The Minister also visited the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umar Faruk, CON, where she delivered President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill message and reiterated his commitment to people-focused development.
In his response, the Emir described Musawa as a “round peg in a round hole” and pledged support for the project.
Also speaking, Hon. Abiola Abdulkareem, Special Assistant to the Minister on Subnational Development and Project Coordinator, said, “We want creatives in rural communities to truly feel the presence—and the purse—of the government through tangible interventions that support their craft, heritage, and livelihoods.”
Musawa also toured key heritage sites in the state and assured of FG’s collaboration with the state government to preserve them.
