Abuja: Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, has called on entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the creative sector to invest in the development of the Abuja Creative City (ACC). Musawa made the call at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ministry and Creative Park Limited on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the collaborative MoU aims to develop the ACC as an entertainment, culture, and creative hub while creating jobs for Nigerian youths. Musawa, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, described the ACC as a visionary project designed to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for innovation, media, culture, and entertainment.
The minister outlined benefits for investors, including tax incentives for a specified period and plans to introduce reduced rates for water, electricity, and other utilities during the initial phase of the five-year project. Musawa emphasized the project’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to provide unprecedented economic and cultural expansion in Nigeria.
Musawa highlighted the ACC as a celebration of Nigeria’s history, showcasing arts, music, film, and other creative expressions while establishing it as Africa’s cultural flagship center. She explained that the city would offer world-class recreational facilities like theatres and cinemas, creating more opportunities for Nigerian creatives and boosting economic activities in Abuja.
In his remarks, Mr. Bayo Omoboriowo, Managing Director of Creative Park Limited, praised the minister’s initiative to drive the ACC as a public-private partnership project. He emphasized that the creative city, spanning 50 hectares, would offer world-class infrastructure comparable to global creative hubs like NEOM, Dubai Media City, and Techhub in London.
Omoboriowo stressed that the initiative goes beyond infrastructure, focusing on the potential of the Nigerian people. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector to build a future where talents are developed locally rather than exported, turning ideas into products and products into industries.