The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious plan to generate at least $100 billion annually and create over two million jobs from Nigeria’s creative economy. The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, presented the strategic roadmap during a roundtable with local and international investors on Wednesday.
Musawa highlighted that while Nigeria’s creative industry has immense potential, it currently contributes just $5 billion to the economy, with various sub-sectors like music, visual media, arts, fashion, and video gaming at different stages of development.
To unlock this potential, the ministry has identified 14 key initiatives under four pillars: Technology, Infrastructure and Funding, International Culture Promotion, and Intellectual Property Monetization. These initiatives include expanding access to digital tools, improving internet infrastructure, leveraging public-private partnerships for funding, and promoting Nigerian arts and culture abroad.
Musawa emphasized that the plan, if fully implemented, could grow the creative economy by 400% by 2027, transforming it into a major contributor to Nigeria’s GDP and job market. The ministry has partnered with BigWin Philanthropy to support capacity building and job creation within the sector.
According to date, the Nigeria’s creative economy currently contributes only 1.2% to GDP, lagging behind other African countries like South Africa and Egypt, but the government is determined to close that gap and position the sector for long-term growth.