The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has announced the ministry’s initiative to set up a national museum and a national theatre within a designated “Creative City” in Abuja. This declaration was made during the budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy at the National Assembly on Thursday. The statement, signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Ikem, was made available to our correspondent on Friday.
According to Musawa, these two projects are prioritised within the ministry and are intended to generate employment opportunities for Nigerians. She stressed that the realisation of this goal hinges on the Senate passing the budget promptly.
Musawa expressed regret over the gross underfunding of the ministry and urged the Senate Committee to increase its allocation in the 2024 budget. She emphasised the significant potential of the ministry and its alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aiming for a N100 Billion contribution to the nation’s GDP by 2030. This includes major projects such as the construction of a National Theatre and National Museum in Abuja.
In her earlier statements, Musawa highlighted the ministry’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria through proposed projects, outlining core functions such as attracting foreign investment and cultural promotion. She underlined the importance of achieving aspirational targets and the need for adequate financial provision to establish an intellectual property framework harnessing Nigeria’s culture and creativity.
Senator Mohammed Onawo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, commended Musawa for her initiatives and assured support through budget reviews to facilitate the efficient discharge of duties and realisation of ministry goals. Senator Ede Dafinone, a committee member, raised concerns about the meagre budgetary allocation and questioned the ministry’s ability to execute major projects under such constraints.