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The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa
•2 min read

Musawa Sets Up Four Committees to Drive Nigeria’s Creative Economy Reforms The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has inaugurated four committees tasked with developing policies and financing frameworks to strengthen Nigeria’s arts, culture, tourism and wider creative sector. The committees—covering Policy & Strategy, Programmes & Implementation, Stakeholder Engagement, and Monitoring & Evaluation—were unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja. Their mandate is to address long-standing challenges in the sector, including fragmented governance, weak enforcement of intellectual property rights, and limited access to funding. Speaking at the event, Musawa noted that although Nigeria’s creative industry enjoys global recognition, it contributes only about 2.3% to the nation’s GDP. She linked the new initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which targets a ₦100 billion GDP contribution from the sector and the creation of two million jobs by 2030. She charged committee members to develop a unified governance structure that eliminates overlaps, clarifies institutional roles, and positions the creative economy as a key driver of national growth. Musawa emphasized that their work should go beyond policy discussions and deliver practical, results-oriented outcomes for creatives and entrepreneurs across the country. Each committee is expected to submit its terms of reference along with a 90-day work plan by April 21, 2026, with quarterly public updates to ensure transparency and accountability. The minister also acknowledged the support of partners such as the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, UNESCO, and UNDP for providing technical assistance. In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Ikenna Nwosu, described the creative economy as a major driver of innovation, employment, and global competitiveness. He said Nigeria is well positioned to lead Africa’s creative transformation due to its rich cultural heritage and abundant talent. Nwosu stressed that the newly formed committees must deliver practical, data-driven plans that address funding gaps, improve intellectual property protection, and strengthen infrastructure. He added that their recommendations should clearly outline priorities, timelines, financing options, and implementation responsibilities. The committees will operate simultaneously, focusing on key reform areas such as harmonising government roles, drafting a comprehensive national creative economy policy, expanding financing through public-private partnerships and dedicated funds, and planning an international summit to position Nigeria as a leading creative hub. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with stakeholders to design policies that attract investment, encourage innovation, and support economic diversification through the creative industries.

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has inaugurated four committees tasked with developing policies and financing frameworks to strengthen Nigeria’s arts,...

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)
•2 min read

NUJ Demands Apology from Wike Over Comment on Okinbaloye The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for an immediate apology and government intervention following a controversial remark by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, directed at broadcaster Seun Okinbaloye. In a statement signed by its National President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, the union expressed “deep shock and outrage,” describing the comment as reckless and a threat to press freedom. The NUJ said Wike’s remark—“If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him”—amounts to an attempt to intimidate journalists and undermine democratic values. It warned that such statements from high-ranking officials could create fear within the media space. According to the union, it had initially withheld its reaction in anticipation of a retraction or apology, but the absence of any response suggests the comment may have been deliberate rather than a slip. The NUJ stressed that the statement sends a troubling message that critical journalism could attract hostility or threats, adding that it risks creating an unsafe environment for media practitioners carrying out their duties. The union called on the Federal Government to condemn the remark and take concrete steps to guarantee the safety and independence of journalists. It also urged media organisations, civil society groups and democracy advocates to stand united against threats to press freedom. Reaffirming its position, the NUJ demanded an immediate and unconditional apology from Wike, warning that any attempt to silence the press must be resisted. Meanwhile, Okinbaloye, speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, noted that public officials must be mindful of their words, emphasizing that statements from leaders carry significant weight and can influence public perception and safety.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for an immediate apology and government intervention following a controversial remark by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, d...

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