•L-R: Mrs Khalitah Ebong, Director, Admin and HRM, CBAAC; Mrs Patience Agbi, Deputy Director, CBAAC; Hon. Aisha Adamu Augie; DG, CBAAC, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa; Hon Minister, FMACCE; Mr Obi Asika, DG NCAC, and Hon. Tola Akerele, GM/CEO, National Theatre.
The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy have conducted the 2024 retreat for the ministry and its agencies.
The two-day retreat with the theme, “Driving Creativity and Innovation Towards Destination 2030”, had in attendance the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa; the Permanent Secretary, Mr James Sule; representative of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Dr Sanusi Oharie; representative of the Chairman of the ICPC, Mr Okor Odey; and Hon. Aisha Adamu Augie, Director-General of CBAAC, and other heads of agencies in the ministry.
In her remarks, the minister stated that job creation was key in driving the economy, stressing that the ministry and its agencies were poised to create about two million jobs by 2027.
“By 2030, the Creative Economy sector would have increased the nation’s GDP to $150 billion,” Hannatu said, adding that the ministry and her agencies would work round the clock in ensuring that the target was achieved: “As the nation makes plans to diversify to non oil sectors, the Ministry has put strategies in place on how to harness talents and creativities of Nigerians to add value to the country.”
Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, said the creative industry was full of opportunities for tremendous economic growth: “The creative economy is a fountain of opportunities, a wellspring of economic growth and a catalyst for societal transformation that should be supported by everyone.”
The Director General of CBAAC, Aisha Adamu Augie, presented a paper on the centre’s role in growing the economy through creativity.
Others who presented papers included Ahmed Bashir Sadongi, Director General National Gallery of Arts; Ali Nuhu, Managing Director Nigeria Film Corporation; Olugbile Holloway, Director General National Film and Video Censor Board; Tola Akerele, General Manager National Troupe of Nigeria; and Kaltume Bulama GANA, Artistic Director, National Theatre.