The Nigerian government on Monday, approved the establishment of the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation to harness the substantial economic potential inherent in Nigeria’s creative and tourism sectors
According to Musawa, the new corporation will serve as a special-purpose vehicle for identifying, deploying, and financing critical infrastructure within the creative sector, addressing longstanding challenges.
“We all know that Nigeria’s creativity attracts global attention, and the President has been intentional about diversifying the government’s focus to include the creative industry and innovation,” she said.
The Corporation is expected to generate $100 billion in GDP growth and creating at least 2 million jobs, particularly for Nigerian youths.
Citing last December’s Detty December celebrations in Lagos as an example of Nigeria’s creative potential, Musawa said the corporation will bridge infrastructure gap that has limited the sector’s growth. “Imagine the impact if such events had the necessary infrastructure to support their growth,” she said
She said that development partners and stakeholders from around the world have been engaged to support the innovative infrastructure and financing approaches required for the project.
Projects Under the Initiative
According to the Minister, “Several large-scale projects have been outlined under the initiative, including the creation of an Abuja resort range, expansion of Yankari Game Reserve, development of an Abuja Creator City, construction of 5,000 new cinema screens, the establishment of a Wole Soyinka Center for African Arts in Lagos, a nationwide digital distribution network and upgrades to the National Gallery and national arena capacity to 100,000 ”
She identified the construction of a national museum in Abuja as one notable project. “We want to bring a national museum to Abuja. Imagine the giant of Africa not having a museum in its capital city. This, she explained, is a gap government is determined to fill.
The initiative also includes plans to position Nollywood as a global destination for film production and develop world-class music arenas all over the country.
“This is a wonderful day for Nigeria’s tourism and creative industries. By bridging the infrastructure gap and fostering a new mindset, we can fully realize the economic value of these sectors and deliver widespread benefits to the Nigerian public,” She declared.
Established in October 2024, the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy has been tasked with fostering creativity and innovation to enhance Nigeria’s standing on the global stage.
