Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, has announced that the Federal Government is set to unveil a revised National Tourism Policy, a National Policy on Culture, and a robust Intellectual Property (IP) protection framework.
Musawa made this disclosure while presenting the ministry’s scorecard at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held on Friday at the National Press Centre in Abuja. The event was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Mr President wants us to take his vision right down to the grass roots and the Renewed Hope Cultural Project sees us looking at the unique peculiarities of every single state.
– Minister of Arts & Culture, Hannatu Musawa#CTVtweets
#2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series pic.twitter.com/KaIz2XNBh8— Channels Television (@channelstv) May 16, 2025
Musawa explained that the ministry is currently reviewing, formulating, and implementing policies designed to guide Nigeria’s cultural and creative sectors to enhance their contribution to the national economy.
She highlighted other policies due for unveiling, including the National Policy on Incentivising the Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, and the Policy on Monetary and Credit Solutions for the Creative Economy.
The minister noted that existing policies are inadequate, outdated, and fail to address recent developments within the arts, culture, tourism, and creative economy sectors.
Musawa revealed that the review of Nigeria’s National Policy on Culture unchanged for 37 years and the 2005 National Tourism Policy is nearing completion.
“Policy formulation is vital for the growth and advancement of the four sectors under the ministry’s remit.
“In partnership with the private sector, led by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the ministry is committed to providing a clear policy framework for the creative economy, arts, culture, and tourism sectors.
“This will reposition these sectors and create an enabling environment to help them thrive as key alternative sources of national income.
“In recognition of the urgency of these reforms, the ministry has initiated a comprehensive review to ensure Nigeria’s cultural framework aligns with global best practices and reflects the evolving creative economy.
“This initiative demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to cultural development under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she said.
Musawa emphasised that as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil, the Tinubu administration recognises the creative economy as a viable alternative and is working to ensure its growth.
She outlined several initiatives aimed at creating an enabling environment to harness Nigeria’s creative economy potential.
As part of its ‘Destination-30’ data initiative, the ministry is conducting a mapping exercise to provide a data-driven foundation for target-setting, investment prioritisation, and programme design across the creative economy.
“This evidence-based approach is fundamental for strategic planning and decision-making in the sector.
“For example, in the music sector, we have identified five segments in the value chain, including production, marketing, and sales.
“Our draft report projects the creation of over 500,000 new jobs in the sector by 2030.
“Our mapping indicates the sector will thrive through self-employment and micro-enterprises, with regional hubs like Edo, Delta, and Plateau playing significant roles alongside Lagos.
“We are currently validating the data and expect to publish the mapping results in early June.
“These figures represent real opportunities for Nigerian youth, women, and communities nationwide.
“They illustrate the transformative potential of our creative industries when properly supported and strategically developed,” she stated.
Addressing the persistent funding challenges facing investors, filmmakers, music producers, and other creatives, the minister disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the establishment of the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF).
Additionally, FEC approved the launch of the IP Monetisation Pilot, intended to provide funding for creatives and develop a model for IP asset securitisation.
Other initiatives include the Creative Leap Acceleration Programme (CLAP), a digital platform supporting creative enterprises with funding, technology, and co-working spaces.
Musawa also mentioned collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Abuja Office on developing Creative Industry Administrators skilled in Intellectual Property Rights Management, set for 2025.
“We are implementing a comprehensive reform of the film industry, including modernising government agencies and parastatals, promoting a functional, self-regulated ecosystem, improving welfare and working conditions, and strengthening IP protection.
“In line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision, the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy leads Nigeria’s economic diversification strategy.
“We are transforming what was once viewed purely as cultural expression into powerful engines of sustainable growth and job creation.
“In just eighteen months, we have secured $200 million in investment commitments, established innovative funding mechanisms, and created infrastructure expected to generate over two million jobs.
“This is elevating Nigeria’s global cultural standing while encouraging rural communities, women, and youth to participate meaningfully in the creative economy.
“Our strategic partnerships with government agencies, international organisations, and private sector leaders have positioned Nigeria’s tourism and creative sectors as vibrant, inclusive economic pillars beyond just alternatives to oil dependency.
“They are now capable of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges,” she affirmed.
Musawa revealed that, to tackle infrastructural decay in the sector, FEC has approved establishing the Creative & Tourism Infrastructure Corporation (CTICo).
This corporation is projected to attract $100 billion in investment and create over two million jobs.
The ministry has also partnered with Creative Park Limited to establish Abuja Creative City, Africa’s first-of-its-kind creative hub, on 26 hectares in the IDU Industrial Area.
The creative hub will be replicated in major Nigerian cities to provide platforms for emerging talent and create jobs for the nation’s youth.
