Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government and the European Union have agreed on a €20 million initiative between museums to support film festivals and digital creative industries.

The synergy came into light yesterday in Abuja, when a high-level delegation from the European Union led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Ambassador Gautier Mignot, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.

The agreement was part of a broader effort to harness Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote national unity.

At the engagement, Musawa disclosed plans to produce a ‘Unity Song’ featuring Nigeria’s major artists, to promote national unity and address security concerns through music.

“Culture is central to civilization and growth. We must harness our rich cultural heritage to drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote national unity,” she said.

Also, an upcoming Creative Economy Summit to convene stakeholders, coordinate activities, and avoid duplication of efforts in the creative industry were also highlighted.

The summit aims to drive strategic collaboration, investment, and innovation in Nigeria’s creative sector.

In the same light, Musawa also stressed the need for data-driven interventions to guide policy decisions and maximize impact in the cultural sector.

According to her, data mapping will be crucial in informing cultural and creative economy interventions, ensuring that efforts are targeted and effective.

Both the federal government the and EU partners expressed commitment to deepen their cooperation in the cultural sector, with a focus on capacity building, digital skills development, and job creation.

In future, the parties will harness the creative industry for job creation and economic growth, and align projects with international best practices while ensuring they are tailored to Nigerian realities.

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