Q2 2025 saw Nigeria arts culture centre stage with global showcases, funding reforms, and bold policy moves driving the nation’s creative economy forward
Between April and June 2025, Nigeria’s creative economy found its rhythm. What was once a patchwork of informal initiatives has matured into a coordinated, government-backed engine of growth under the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE).
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In just three months, the sector has racked up milestones that signal renewed energy and a reimagined future.
Formed in October 2023, the Ministry was created as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify Nigeria’s economy through industrialisation, innovation, and the arts.
In May, Nigeria made a high-profile return to the global cultural stage at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France, where the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) hosted the Screen Nigeria showcase.
Not long after, Nigeria’s participation at the London Biennale marked another statement of intent, spotlighting Nigerian artists and curators on the world’s most prestigious contemporary art platform.
These events were part of the Ministry’s “Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere” campaign which is focused on repositioning Nigeria as a global creative and tourism brand.
Creative financing came alive back home in April when the Federal Executive Council approved the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), a multibillion-naira facility that offers three financing windows: debt, equity/quasi-equity, and grants.
According to FMACTCE, the fund is expected to support a range of sectors including fashion, music, publishing, gaming, and cultural tourism.
Alongside this was the expansion of CLAP: Creative Leap Acceleration Programme, a digital support platform offering access to funding, innovation labs, and co-working spaces.
To move from guesswork to strategy, the Ministry ramped up its D30 Data Initiative with the launch of the D30 Data Platform in partnership with BigWin Philanthropy and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The initiative is mapping Nigeria’s creative landscape and providing reliable data for policy and investment.
Culture must speak to our economy. This is about heritage, jobs, and national pride coming together in one movement.
A draft report released in May projects over 500,000 jobs in the music industry by 2030, with regional hubs emerging in Lagos, Edo, Delta, and Plateau states.
Arts and Tourism in the Spotlight
In a major diplomatic boost, Nigeria hosted the 68th United Nations Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja from June 11–13, a testament to her growing stature in global tourism.
The event focused on investment, cultural preservation, and digital transformation in African tourism.
The FMACTCE also announced its partnership with IHS Nigeria and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) to digitise Nigeria’s cultural assets and make them globally accessible through a new virtual museum.
Cultural Infrastructure and Education
Between April and June, the Ministry pushed forward on several physical and institutional projects.
The Abuja Creative City, being built on 26 hectares of land, is set to become a regional hub for content production and creative innovation.
The Nigerian Academy of Cultural Studies (NACUS), under NICO, also expanded its programs across campuses in Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, and Ogbomoso.
Meanwhile, according to the FMACTCE, Renewed Hope Cultural Villages, one in each state and the FCT, are being rolled out to support local artisans, traditional music, and cultural tourism.
The Ministry said it kickstarted skill acquisition training across rural communities, starting in Katsina State.
Women and youth were equipped with knowledge in traditional crafts, fashion design, and musical instrumentation—bridging heritage and entrepreneurship.
Challenges Still in Play
Despite these advances, the Ministry admits that challenges remain.
According to its Ministerial Scorecard, issues such as limited tourism infrastructure, market fragmentation, and a lack of basic tools in rural hubs continue to hinder full-scale sector growth.
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Still, the gains of this quarter point to a sector that is no longer on the margins of policy but may now be central to Nigeria’s national development.
