Nume Ekeghe
The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa has revealed that the federal government has developed a road map and strategic framework for the creative industry.
This, she added, is because the sector has the highest potential for wealth creation, especially now that the country is determined to diversify from oil.
Hannatu Musawa, who was a guest at the ongoing +234 Art Fair held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), stated that the government has a robust plan to support culture and economic expansion through the creative industry. She said that government cannot do it alone and is therefore looking towards a public-private sector (PPP) arrangement to accomplish this goal.
The Minister who visited the various exhibition stands at the fair expressed satisfaction with the painting, photography and sculpture on display, assuring of massive support and exposure to the young artists to enable them contribute more to the growth of the economy.
“I’m amazed at the works on display. I can see great talents and amazing creatives. There is strong display of our diversities and culture as a nation. Indeed, there are abundant talents all over the country. We will open the space, give them the necessary exposure and support to realize their ambition. We are looking at partnerships we can have to bring funding to the space and be able to open up its potentials. I assure the creatives that government is now ready to give them support so they can have the enabling environment to operate. I am proud and honored to be here today to see artworks of emerging artists, and the ministry will do all it can to support them,” she stated.
She commended Ecobank Nigeria, Africa Finance Corporation, Soto Gallery and other sponsors of the fair for providing the artists the platform to display their talents and creatives, assuring that her ministry will continue to support and encourage such initiatives.
The +234Art is an international art exhibition is for young ‘un-galleried’ emerging Nigerian Artists. ‘+234Art’ is an amalgam of Nigeria’s country calling code, and the all-encompassing word – ‘Art’. The fair is dedicated to nurturing and uplifting the burgeoning art industry in Nigeria by providing a platform to support emerging artists and encourage increased interest in art acquisition, thereby contributing to the growth and prosperity of the local art sector and its international recognition.