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ABUJA – The 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have backed the National Council for Arts and Culture’s Strategic Roadmap aimed at growing the sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution to $100 billion by 2030 and create over 3 million jobs.
The governors’ position was part of the resolutions at NGF’s 5th meeting late Wednesday, August 27, 2025, convened to discuss critical national issues and chart a collaborative path for economic growth.
Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, Governor of Gombe State, who read out the communique signed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum & Governor of Kwara State, stated that the Forum received a presentation from the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, represented by Mr. Obi Asika Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, on the Strategic Roadmap to grow the sector’s GDP contribution to $100 billion by 2030 and create over 3 million jobs.
He added that other key initiatives of the presentation include the establishment of a $200 million Creative Economy Development Fund, a $1 billion Creative & Tourism Infrastructure Corporation, and landmark projects such as the Lagos Arena, Abuja Creative City, and Renewed Hope Cultural Villages.
According to him, to support Strategic Roadmap, the NGF resolved to collaborate through the creation of State Creative Economy Desks, co-create festivals, and the adoption of the Naija Season platform to drive cultural and economic growth across states.
Yahaya said the Forum meeting also paid tribute to a departed family member of one of its own, having begun with a minute of silence in honour of the late Pa Ahmed Momohsani Ododo, father of Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, with governors expressing their heartfelt condolences to their Kogi counterpart Governor and his family, praying for the peaceful repose of his father’s soul.
The communiqué reads in part: “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, deliberated on issues affecting the country.
“The Forum observed a minute of silence in honour of the late Pa Ahmed Momohsani Ododo, father of the Governor of Kogi State, H.E. Usman Ododo. Governors extended heartfelt condolences to Governor Ododo and his family, praying for the peaceful repose of his father’s soul.
“The Forum received a presentation from the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, represented by Mr. Obi Asika Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, on the Strategic Roadmap to grow the sector’s GDP contribution to $100 billion by 2030 and create over 3 million jobs. Key initiatives include the $200 million Creative Economy Development Fund, the $1 billion Creative & Tourism Infrastructure Corporation, and projects such as the Lagos Arena, Abuja Creative City, and Renewed Hope Cultural Villages.
“Governors commended the reforms to strengthen intellectual property, expand tourism, and elevate Nigeria’s global presence, and resolved to collaborate through State Creative Economy Desks, co-created festivals, and the adoption of the Naija Season platform”.