The minister of art, culture, tourism and creative economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, says the federal government is targeting two million jobs in the creative industry by 2030.

Ms Musa-Musawa stated this on Friday at the closing of the 2026 Kano Creative Summit, organised by the National Theatre to strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy and equip practitioners with skills for sustainable businesses.

“The federal government is integrating the creative sector into its economic framework through the Renewed Hope Agenda and “Destination Nigeria” initiative, with a target of creating two million jobs in the creative industry by 2030,” she said.

Speaking on Kano’s potentials in the industry, the minster observed that Kano’s rich creative heritage can drive job creation and economic growth.

She said Kano’s centuries-old creative traditions, including Kofar Mata indigo dyeing, leatherwork, weaving, blacksmithing, embroidery and Kannywood, were important components of the nation’s creative economy.

The minister noted that the inscription of Kano’s indigo dyeing on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024 further demonstrated the global value of the state’s cultural heritage.

She urged practitioners to professionalise their creative works and businesses by registering and protecting their intellectual property, separating personal and business finances, understanding project costs, and strengthening collective bargaining through professional associations.

The minister also called for the revival of idle cultural sites such as Kofar Mata and the implementation of community-based training programmes to transfer traditional skills and knowledge to younger generations.

A panel session on the future of Northern Nigerian creativity was anchored by Kaltume Bulama-Gana, CEO of the National Troupe, and Abdulkareem Mohammed, Founder of the Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Festival (KILAF).

Others included Rukayat Banjo, Head of the Department of Theatre Arts, Bayero University, Kano, who examined ways to unlock the region’s creative potential.

In their contributions, Mr Bulama-Gana stressed the need for Northern creatives to repackage their works and use digital platforms to showcase the region’s cultural identity.

Mr Mohammed called for sustained professional training and stronger collaboration between academia and the creative industry.

Mr Banjo identified language and inadequate indigenous storytelling as major challenges, urging creatives to produce narratives that reflect Northern history and personalities that can compete for audiences on global platforms.

The panellists also called for stronger government intervention in skills development, improved access to grants and loans, and institutional support for practitioners, including the establishment of a National Troupe zonal office in Kano.

The summit highlighted intellectual property, access to funding, digital technology and professional networking as key areas requiring greater attention to enable Nigerian creatives to compete in the global market.

Participants expressed appreciation for the practical knowledge shared during the summit, saying the sessions had challenged them to rethink their approach to creative works, business practices and opportunities within the industry.

The summit also brought together creatives, policymakers, investors and industry experts to explore practical ways of transforming Nigeria’s cultural assets and creative talents into sustainable economic opportunities.

(NAN)