CANEX 2024: From Nigeria to the world, advancing the creative economy

Nigeria's Minister of Art, Culture & Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, recently discussed the country's ambitious plans to elevate its cultural and creative industries to new heights during the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2024. The event, organized by the African Export-Import Bank, served as a platform to explore opportunities for growth and investment in the creative sector across the continent. In a conversation with CNBC Africa's Kenneth Igbomor, Minister Musawa highlighted Nigeria's commitment to diversifying its economy away from traditional sectors like oil and focusing on harnessing the potential of the creative industry. President Bula Amadinebo has identified the creative sector as a key driver of economic growth, prompting the government to create a supportive environment for both local and African creatives. Minister Musawa emphasized the importance of infrastructure and policies to protect and promote industries like fashion, which play a significant role in Nigeria's cultural expression and identity. The government is working on implementing intellectual property, cultural, and creative economy policies to support the growth of the sector. With a vision to make Nigeria a hub for the creative industry in Africa, Minister Musawa highlighted the need for collaboration and investment to unlock the country's cultural and creative potential. The Creative Africa Advisory Group, of which Minister Musawa is a member, lauded Afreximbank's decision to allocate additional funding to support the creative sector, recognizing the impact it will have on empowering African creatives and fostering economic development. The advisory group urged African countries to leverage these resources to strengthen their cultural and creative industries and position the continent as a global leader in creativity and innovation.