The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has pledged support for the federal government’s plan to grow the nation’s creative economy to contribute $100 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.
In a communiqué issued after its meeting on Wednesday night in Abuja, and signed by NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the governors described the initiative as vital to boosting arts, culture, tourism, and job creation.
The roadmap, presented by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa—represented by Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture—targets the creation of over three million jobs in the next five years.
Key projects highlighted include the $200 million Creative Economy Development Fund, the $1 billion Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation, the Lagos Arena, Abuja Creative City, and Renewed Hope Cultural Villages. The governors also commended reforms in intellectual property, tourism expansion, and global positioning of Nigeria’s creative sector, while resolving to establish state-level creative economy desks, co-create festivals, and adopt the “Naija Season” platform.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier approved the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation under a Public-Private Partnership model to drive investment and competitiveness in the sector.
Meanwhile, the NGF commiserated with Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State over the death of his father, Pa Ahmed Ododo, aged 83, and observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Separately, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed that Nigeria’s digital economy, which contributed 14.19 per cent to GDP in Q1 2025 (about N7 trillion), is projected to rise to 21 per cent by 2030. He said the ongoing National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill would provide the legal framework for digital identity, governance, and service delivery.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, added that the government was expanding digital infrastructure, literacy, and inclusion, while other stakeholders, including the Nigerian Data Protection Commission and Galaxy Backbone, reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the sector.
