Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has outlined initiatives to drive economic diversification in the country by doubling the gross domestic product (GDP) contribution of the tourism sector and creating over two million jobs by 2030.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, who unveiled the plan, said the target is to position Nigeria among the world’s top 20 creative economies, and a global leader in tourism, culture and creative industries.
The minister, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Compliance and Coordination, Jummai Ali, noted that Nigeria is on the right track as the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy is driving economic diversification through transformative blueprints that offer alternatives to the country’s oil-driven economy.
According to her, the strategic blueprints of the Ministry aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which mandates economic diversification, job creation and international competitiveness.
Musawa disclosed that the plan to double tourism GDP contribution, create two million jobs and place Nigeria among the top 20 creative economies is based on four strategic pillars, namely data-driven insights through the D30 Project; stakeholder collaboration and policy reform; infrastructure modernization via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs); and global tourism and cultural promotion through the Nigeria Everywhere brand.
She added that, through structured investment strategies, the Ministry is mobilizing $2 billion in investments to support job creation and expand the creative economy to $100 billion by 2030.
“At the heart of this strategic framework lies the D30 Data Project, a groundbreaking, N3 billion grant-funded initiative poised to construct Nigeria’s first comprehensive tourism and creative economy database.
“Inspired by the EFINA model, which revolutionized the fintech sector through data accessibility, the D30 Data Platform serves as a transformative tool that provides real-time insights to attract domestic and international investment, while shaping forward thinking policies for digital trade.
“By creating a transparent and dynamic data ecosystem, it empowers stakeholders with actionable intelligence, fosters regulatory clarity, and sparks innovation across sectors, driving sustainable economic growth and positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global digital economy,” the minister said.
Noting that sustainable transformation requires active participation from the private sector, investors, creatives, and local communities, she said the Ministry has intensified engagement efforts to ensure that all key stakeholders contribute to Nigeria’s tourism renaissance.
“A meeting with the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) laid the foundation for crucial industry-wide reforms through the implementation of far-reaching innovative action plans.
Highlighting the action plans, Musawa noted, “Harmonising tourism regulations for efficiency: The Ministry is working to align the legal frameworks governing the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and streamlining private-sector operations. State-level coordination: The Council of Tourism Commissioners will enhance state involvement in tourism planning. Economic measurement: A Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) will be established to track the sector’s GDP contributions. Taxation reforms: Addressing multiple taxation hurdles in the hospitality sector to improve the ease of doing business. Global visibility: Nigeria will amplify its presence in international tourism exhibitions.”
She also revealed plans to hold a National Tourism Summit in 2025.
Speaking further, the minister said to bridge Nigeria’s tourism infrastructural gap, the Ministry has established the Creative Tourism Infrastructure Company (CTICo), a Public Private Partnership-driven Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) mandated to transform Nigeria’s economy by injecting $2 billion, creating over two million jobs, and attracting both local and international investments while showcasing the nation’s cultural richness.
Key projects include the restoration of Obudu Resort and Yankari Game Reserve, the development of Abuja Creative City, and the construction of a Creative City at the Wole Soyinka Center.
“The initiative will deliver a total National Arena capacity of 100,000 seats, positioning Nigeria as a global creative and tourism hub,” Musawa said, adding that the Ministry is also actively supporting the development of a private-sector-driven arena in Lagos.
Musawa further disclosed that, to ensure funding for the initiatives, the Nigerian government has secured a commitment of $200 million from Afrexim Bank. The funding, which will go directly into the sector, will be operationalized from the 1st of June 2025.
The minister added that in line with the plan to position Nigeria among the world’s top 20 creative economies, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the Nigeria Everywhere Brand, an initiative aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a global soft power leader by promoting its rich cultural heritage and vibrant creative sector.
“This initiative will enhance international recognition, expand market access for Nigerian creative industries, and showcase Nigerian excellence on the global stage,” she said.
According to the minister, in 2025, the global outreach program will extend across four continents, featuring Nigeria’s return to the Cannes Film Festival, Nigeria Everywhere Pavilion at major UK cultural exhibitions, strategic engagements at the United Nations General Assembly, cultural initiatives in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
In the same vein, in 2025, the Ministry will commence the redevelopment of Nigeria House in Brazil. The project is designed to enhance cultural diplomacy and cross-continental cultural exchange.
“Nigeria’s tourism and creative economy renaissance is not merely a policy initiative but a bold reimagination of the Nation’s global positioning. The combined impact of the D30 Data Project, infrastructure modernization, stakeholder collaboration, and the Nigeria Everywhere brand is redefining the country’s tourism landscape,” Musawa said.