The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has renewed her call for stronger partnerships and increased private-sector investment to reposition Nigeria as a major global destination for tourism, culture and business.
She made the appeal in Abuja at the eighth edition of the Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) 2025, organised by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).
Musawa described NTIFE as more than an exhibition platform, calling it an open invitation for investors to convert Nigeria’s abundant cultural and creative assets into sustainable economic growth.
She noted that the newly established Ministry underscores the government’s commitment to placing culture, tourism and the creative industries at the heart of national development.
Under the Ministry’s vision, the sector is projected to contribute $100 billion to the economy and create over two million jobs by 2030, particularly empowering young Nigerians.
While acknowledging existing infrastructure and policy gaps, Musawa disclosed that the Ministry has begun implementing key frameworks targeted at resolving these long-standing challenges.
Highlighting emerging opportunities, she encouraged investors to channel resources into heritage sites, creative cities, entertainment infrastructure, resorts and cultural hubs.
She stressed that Nigeria’s natural beauty, creativity and human capital remain competitive global assets capable of yielding strong returns for partners willing to collaborate.
Musawa further revealed that several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are being signed with state governments and corporate bodies to deepen Public-Private Partnerships in line with Presidential directives.
She urged operators and stakeholders to actively engage the Ministry, affirming that with collective effort, Nigeria can evolve into a global destination where culture meets commerce and innovation drives prosperity.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike