Art Ministry, Sports Commission sign pact for sports-cultural innovation hub

By Jide Olusola

The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a National Arts, Cultural, Creative, Tourism and Sports Innovation Hub at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium precinct in Abuja.

SPONSOR AD

The MoU, signed on Thursday in Abuja, seeks to harness the power of arts, culture, tourism, and sports for national development, youth empowerment, and enhanced global recognition.

The upcoming hub will host world-class facilities, including a National Museum of Arts and Culture, Entertainment Arena and Performance Centre, Youth Creative and Entrepreneurship Centre, Eco-Villas and Eco-Lodges, Family Recreational Park, Cultural Lounges and Marketplaces, a Mounted Games Arena, and a Sports Heritage Pavilion.

Speaking at the signing, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq., praised the partnership, highlighting the impact of NSC’s Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, on sports development.
“Since Mallam Shehu Dikko came on board, we’ve had back-to-back wins in sports. Partnering with the sports industry through this MoU will empower young Nigerians, showcase our culture, and build capacity. Replicating this project across the states will mark a new dawn for the nation, creating jobs, boosting the economy, and addressing insecurity,” Musawa said.

She added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of diversifying the economy through the creative and sports industries.
In his remarks, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing the importance of transforming sports infrastructure.

We want to revamp our facilities to host up to 4,000 activities around the clock. This project will spotlight our history, sports, and culture while generating value for the creative sector. I assure you of my team’s full dedication to making this initiative a success,” Dikko stated.

The partnership will foster inter-agency collaboration, integrate sports with arts and culture, and encourage both private sector participation and multilateral stakeholder engagement.

Structured as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the project will receive institutional backing from both FMACTCE and NSC to ensure smooth approvals and implementation