FG targets ₦100bn boost, 2 million jobs as Musawa inaugurates creative economy committees

In a renewed effort to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s creative industries, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has inaugurated four strategic committees to develop a roadmap for comprehensive sector transformation.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, explained that the initiative, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday, reflects a deliberate move by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to position the creative economy as a key driver of economic growth, employment generation, and national development.
According to the statement, the committees—Policy and Strategy; Programmes and Implementation; Stakeholder Engagement; and Monitoring and Evaluation—have been tasked with addressing structural deficiencies, improving governance frameworks, and unlocking sustainable funding for the sector.
Despite Nigeria’s strong global presence in music, film, fashion, and the arts, Musawa noted that the sector currently contributes only 2.3 per cent to the nation’s GDP, significantly below its potential. She identified fragmented policies, weak enforcement of intellectual property rights, and limited access to financing as major constraints hindering growth.
Setting an ambitious target, the minister disclosed that the government aims to boost GDP by ₦100 billion and create two million jobs by 2030.
“This is not just another policy exercise,” she told committee members. “It is a nation-building task that requires clear thinking, coordination, and actionable solutions.”
Under the initiative, the committees are expected to submit their terms of reference along with a 90-day action plan by April 21, 2026, forming the foundation for long-term reforms. To ensure accountability and transparency, quarterly public briefings will also be held to monitor progress.
Musawa further revealed that the initiative is receiving support from key development partners, including the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), UNESCO, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), underscoring growing international interest in Nigeria’s creative sector.
Providing industry insight, the Chief Executive Officer of NESG, Ikenna Nwosu, described the creative sector as an “economic frontier” with significant potential to drive exports, innovation, and global competitiveness. However, he cautioned that persistent challenges such as poor infrastructure, weak intellectual property protection, and inconsistent policies must be addressed to unlock its full value.
Beyond policy formulation, the committees are also expected to recommend practical solutions such as innovative financing mechanisms, stronger public-private partnerships, and the creation of a Creative Economy Development Fund.
Plans are also underway to host an international summit aimed at positioning Nigeria as a prime destination for creative investment.
With these structures now in place, the government is optimistic that a more coordinated, adequately funded, and policy-driven approach will translate Nigeria’s rich cultural influence into measurable economic outcomes—effectively turning creativity into capital and talent into sustainable national growth.