By McSlim Akwanga.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, says the Ministry is set to implement programmes that will activate structures and improve the Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Sectors to bring prosperity to the Nigeria and her citizens
Musawa made this known at the Ramadan Iftar (breaking of fast) on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to her, Muslim Faithfuls are going through a very holy and beautiful period of Ramadan as Christian brothers and sisters are also observing Lent.
The Minister also appreciated the press for their supports to the Ministry, making Nigerians know that there’s a whole lot of work coming out of the ministry that is doing something very different.
“I am very excited for the next year or so because, our ministry is going to be moving at an unprecedented speed whereby we are going to implement implement and implement.
“We’ve spent a lot of time working through and developing a fantastic strong framework for the ministry, the industry and community at large including the the sub-sector; so now we are at the time that we need.
“Now it is time that we are implementing, implementing and implementing. So I want to invite the media to come on this journey with us. It’s very important.
“You play a very key role in informing Nigeria and giving Nigerians the upliftment that they have been looking for. You know, I often say that our ministry is the happy place for Nigerians and also one of the most important ministries and sectors for the future generations of Nigeria.
“We can amplify it and project it to the world if the media can come with us to help us showcase some of these bright spots that we have,” Musawa said.
She explained that the concurrent observation of Ramadan and Lent by Muslims and Christians signify the importance of unity, adding that we all worship the same Almighty.
“My message for the creative industry is that there are so many good times ahead. President Bola Tinubu has been very keen in ensuring that we put up a structure; a ministry, that will really add a lot of value and worth to Nigerians.
“He is so interested in building something different, special, innovative and dynamic for the future generation. He wants us to build something very strong and fortified, to give the growing population, especially the younger demographic, a hope for the future.
“And he sees in this diversification approach that the creative and cultural industry holds a lot of work in terms of what we can bequeath to this generation.
“So what we have done in the last couple of months is really put up that strong institutional framework, that infrastructure that can really allow us to tap into the bigger potential in the industry. And I can tell you that we’re now at the implementation stage.
“So in the next couple of months you’re going to see us roll out, activate different programmes and implement them. So by the time the end of the year comes, you will really see a structure taking place whereby, the youth of Nigeria will have assurance in terms of job creation, capacity building, and how we can use our creative industry to turn Nigeria into a creative and cultural hub of Africa.
“But I think most importantly at this stage is to see how we can add an economic expansion. And with this, economic expansion is going to be distilled down to the different sectors and it will empower us only as a nation.
“I really want to use this industry again to see how we can look at the different diversity that we have, but use it in a way that will strengthen us as one great people and great nation,” Musawa said.
The Minister furthers stressed that our diversity could be use to show how beautiful and dynamic we are as a people.
“So there’s a project that I’ll be announcing very soon. I think that project will be personify on how we can carry the whole kaleidoscope of people along as one; where we recognize ourselves as one united people.
“Culture is our history, idea, values and traditions. So we want to also tap into this and turn it into an asset”.
High point of the event was a presentation of gifts by the press corp covering the ministry, a Bollywood actor and Union Leaders from the Ministry.