When Nigeria created the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in 2023, it was framed as more than bureaucratic restructuring. It was an economic statement: a declaration that oil would no longer stand alone as the country’s dominant narrative of national wealth. Under Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, the ministry was tasked with converting culture, heritage, and creativity into measurable economic value.
Yet, almost three years into the “new dispensation”, the ministry finds itself balancing ambition with scrutiny, celebrated for its vision, but still struggling with the weight of execution, coordination, and public trust.
A bold mandate, a complex beginning
From inception, the ministry’s scope was unusually wide: arts, culture, tourism, creative industries, and later a formal merger with tourism functions. This consolidation was intended to create synergy across Nigeria’s fragmented cultural economy.
Under Musawa’s leadership, the ministry has articulated a structured roadmap anchored on what it calls an “8-point plan,” focusing on skills development, infrastructure, financing, intellectual property protection, digital transformation, and global market access.
In policy terms, this is one of the most ambitious frameworks Nigeria has attempted in the cultural sector.
The minister has also consistently framed the creative economy as “the new oil,” projecting long-term goals such as significant job creation and multi-billion-dollar contributions to GDP.
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