The Government of Nigeria has announced a deepening of its partnership with France to bolster the country’s creative economy through increased funding and strategic collaborations.
Initially set at €35 million, the concessionary funding from France is expected to grow to €100 million, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s creative infrastructure and expanding opportunities across the sector.
Speaking at the eighth Ministerial Press Briefing Session held at the National Press Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the new bilateral initiative as a transformative step.
“The funding is not just about infrastructure; it’s about empowering talent, creating jobs, and positioning Nigeria as the creative capital of Africa,” Musawa said with conviction.
Musawa underscored the vital role of the partnership with the French Treasury in supporting creative infrastructure projects, emphasizing the value of public-private partnerships in driving this agenda forward.
A significant milestone in the collaboration is the signed agreement for audiovisual co-production between Nigeria and France, which highlights growing international interest in Nigerian content and aims to fuel economic growth and job creation.
“With our partnership with the French Treasury, and the establishment of the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation (CTICo), we are on track to invest up to $100 billion and create over two million jobs by 2027,” the minister added, illustrating the scale of ambition behind the initiative.
The creative economy’s contribution to employment in Nigeria continues to show strong momentum.
Musawa revealed that the ministry has generated over 577,754 jobs across creative, cultural, and tourism sectors, with notable expansion in the music industry and related subsectors.
She referenced a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which recorded 257,745 jobs created in the entertainment industry, including 23,221 new roles in 2024 attributed to more than 20,000 startups.
The rapid growth, from 300,000 jobs to over half a million in 2024, reflects the vibrant dynamism of Nigeria’s creative and cultural landscape.
“Now, you must understand that when we talk about job creation, it is really across the full planning chain,” Musawa explained, highlighting the comprehensive impact of this sector on Nigeria’s economy.
As Nigeria and France deepen their creative collaboration, the move signals a strategic effort to harness Nigeria’s vast cultural potential, boost employment, and position the nation as a leading creative hub on the African continent and beyond.
