The Federal Government of Nigeria has committed to its plan to generate 100 billion dollars from creative economy.
Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, also said that the government was committed to the creation and sustenance of two million jobs in the sector.
She stated at the launch of a Project to Advance Evidence-Based Policies to Support Policy Making to Enhance the Contribution of Creative Sectors and Industries to Sustainable Development in Abuja.
The project was supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
According to the minister, the cultural, creative and tourism sectors are a critical component of our national economy and remains a significant player in our national development.
Musawa, represented by Roshan Nanayakkara, Special Assistant on Monitoring, Evaluation and Heritage, said it was also President Bola Tinubu’s Priority No. 7, tagged: “Accelerate Diversification Through Industrialisation, Digitisation, Creative Arts, Manufacturing & Innovation.”
“The prioritisation of the sectors are reflected in the presidential decision to create a sector specific Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to enable and develop the sectors for the increase of sectoral GDP contribution by generating $100 Billion and the creation and sustenance of 2 million jobs.
“For this goal to be achieved, our first step is to enable the industry for rapid development through key initiatives outlined in our 8-Point Plan.
“Key amongst the components of this plan is the development of policy and regulatory frameworks for the advancement of the sectors.
“This is significantly reflected in our efforts to ensure the development, review and launch of three separate policies in one year.
“These policies include: the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS); the National Cultural Policy and the National Tourism Policy,” she said.
She said these key policy frameworks would aim to support their relevant industries by ensuring alignment in objectives, enabling regulations, and adequate government support for the industry.
“Let me assure you, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is focused on ensuring sustained partnerships for national development.
”The president is also keen on creating the right framework that encourages ease of doing business, serves the public interest and helps us attract investment into the cultural, creative and tourism sectors of the economy,” she said.
Mr Abdourahamane Diallo, the Head of Office, UNESCO Abuja Regional Office, said the EU-UNESCO project was an initiative implemented by UNESCO to support the government, through the ministry, to develop the frameworks for cultural sectors.
According to him, it is about the culture, policy; it is about capacity building of state actors, agencies in the areas of culture and it is also providing a platform for international cooperation in the area of culture and cultural policy.
Mr Gautier Mignot, the Ambassador, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the project was to strengthen the creative industry and its contribution to sustainable development in the country.
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