TINUBU TAKES STEPS IN REBRANDING NIGERIA’S CREATIVE INDUSTRY

Nigeria has seen a surge in global popularity in its creative sector recently. The Music and Film Industry has propelled the nation forward and gained her global recognition with amazing feats like multiple Grammy nominations for various artists in the forthcoming Grammys ceremony and a Nollywood movies crossing the one billion naira threshold for the first time ever. With all of these accomplishments, its only logical that the Nigerian government pay heed and start helping the industry grow even more.

According to a study by Nexford University, growing Nigeria creative economy could potentially create millions of jobs. In this light, Emeritus President; Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 passed the new Copyright bill into law with intentions to grow Nigeria creative economy whilst fighting against piracy and other ills that seek to hamper that growth and continuing in that vein, the current administration is ensuring the creativity sector is a priority with President Bola Tinubu recently approving the appointment of eleven new Chief Executive Officers for agencies under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy:

• Tola Akerele — Director-General, National Theatre
• Dr. Shaibu Husseini — Director-General, National Films and Censors Board
• Mr. Obi Asika — Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture
• Aisha Adamu Augie — Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture
• Ekpolador-Ebi Koinyan — Chief Conservator, National War Museum
• Ahmed Sodangi — Director-General, National Gallery of Art
• Chaliya Shagaya — Director-General, National Institute of Archeology and Museums Studies
• Hajiya Khaltume Bulama Gana — Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria
• Otunba Biodun Ajiboye — Director-General, National Institute for Cultural Orientation
• Ali Nuhu — Managing-Director, Nigerian Film Corporation
• Ramatu Abonbo Mohammed — Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments

The surge of Government investment in the creative sector recently shows how serious the officials are taking the creative industry. The Lagos State Government recently broke grounds on a 100 Million Dollar film village in Ejirin Epe. Also, the photographer to the former president; Bayo Omoboriowo played host to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy at the recently opened “creative incubator, accelerator and research institute” referred to as MAD house by Tikera Africa in Lagos.

There’s so much investment going into the creative space now from government involvement to boost in appreciation and active participation by private sector members and it is the hope of every creative and creative business venture that the growth continues.