Minister Supports African Descent Creative Industry Summit to Boost Tourism & Economy
The Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, has expressed her support for the upcoming African Descent Creative Industry Leadership Summit, Honours, and Pageants, scheduled for May. She conveyed her ministry’s interest during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the Global Initiative for Leadership Success (GILLS), led by its President and CEO, High Chief Sunnie Chukumele.
Minister Musawa highlighted her ministry’s readiness to collaborate and provide the necessary support to ensure the initiative’s success. She praised GILLS for developing a project that encompasses the entire creative industry network. The minister noted that her ministry’s mandate aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to position Nigeria as a robust economy that does not rely solely on petroleum exports for foreign exchange earnings. She observed that many countries, particularly in the Caribbean and some in Africa, generate substantial foreign exchange from tourism.
The minister expressed enthusiasm for the proposed events, including arts exhibitions, fashion shows, and runway displays.The summit aims to showcase cultural parades, tourism and hospitality expos, an African/Black beauty pageant, and the African Descents Creative Industry Awards and Honours. It is anticipated that countries with populations of African descent, both within Africa and beyond, will participate. Participants are expected to include heads of state, state ministries of culture and tourism, as well as related agencies and parastatals.
High Chief Chukumele informed the minister that embassies and high commissions of African descent countries in Nigeria have embraced the initiative and are willing to participate. He added that policymakers, industry stakeholders, and both local and international financial organizations are also slated to attend the summit.
This initiative reflects a concerted effort to harness the potential of the creative industry to diversify Nigeria’s economy and promote cultural exchange on a global scale.
