FG pledges stronger support for creative economy, backs Orange Economy summit

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s creative economy, describing the sector as a major avenue for job creation, economic diversification and sustainable national prosperity.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja when the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, led a delegation from the institute on a courtesy visit to the ministry.

The visit was aimed at seeking the ministry’s support for a proposed National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy.

The summit is being organised as part of the activities of the institute’s Senior Executive Course 48 research, which is examining the entrepreneurial opportunities, challenges and prospects within Nigeria’s creative economy.

Idris commended NIPSS for choosing the Orange Economy as the focus of its research, stressing that the creative sector could play a significant role in Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and create opportunities for young people.

The minister described the initiative as timely, particularly at a period when Nigeria is seeking new sources of economic growth beyond traditional sectors.

“I want to commend NIPSS for this initiative of examining the Orange Economy and entrepreneurship for sustainable development,” Idris said. (Voice of Nigeria)

He assured the delegation that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, alongside its relevant agencies, would support the institute’s research and the proposed summit.

According to the minister, effective communication would be essential to ensuring that the opportunities available within the creative economy are properly understood and communicated to Nigerians and the international community.

Idris said the government was interested in initiatives capable of unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s creative industries and positioning the country to benefit more substantially from the sector.

The creative economy encompasses a wide range of activities, including film, music, television, broadcasting, fashion, advertising, publishing, digital content, design, arts and other intellectual and cultural industries.

Nigeria already has one of Africa’s most influential entertainment industries, with Nigerian music and films enjoying significant audiences across Africa and internationally.

However, stakeholders have repeatedly identified inadequate financing, weak infrastructure, intellectual property challenges, piracy, limited access to global markets and skills gaps as some of the major obstacles restricting the sector’s full economic potential.

The proposed Orange Economy summit is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for policymakers, researchers, creative entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders to examine how these challenges can be addressed.

The initiative is also expected to explore ways of transforming Nigeria’s creative talent into sustainable businesses capable of generating employment, attracting investment and contributing more significantly to national economic growth.

NIPSS’s focus on the Orange Economy comes at a time when governments and private-sector stakeholders are increasingly looking towards creative industries as potential drivers of youth employment and economic diversification.

For Nigeria, the opportunity is particularly significant given the country’s large youthful population and the growing influence of digital platforms.

Young Nigerians are increasingly earning income through music, filmmaking, photography, fashion, gaming, digital marketing, content creation and other creative enterprises.

The government’s renewed commitment, however, will need to go beyond policy pronouncements, with industry stakeholders expected to demand practical interventions that address financing, infrastructure, intellectual property protection and access to markets.

The proposed national summit could provide a platform for such discussions and help develop concrete recommendations for strengthening the sector.

Idris assured the NIPSS delegation that the ministry would work with the institute to support the initiative and help communicate its findings and opportunities to a wider audience.

The minister’s position reinforces the Federal Government’s stated interest in using the creative economy as part of its broader strategy for economic diversification and sustainable development.

With the planned summit, stakeholders are expected to turn attention to how Nigeria can move from celebrating its creative talent to building a stronger economic ecosystem around it—one capable of creating jobs, attracting capital and generating sustainable prosperity.