The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy has announced a three-year partnership with Chocolate City Group to transform Nigeria’s creative economy.
The collaboration aims to develop small-scale live venues, discover and nurture emerging talent, establish global distribution channels for Nigerian content, and strengthen intellectual property protections.
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, emphasized the sector’s economic potential and the government’s commitment to unlocking its value through meaningful collaboration.
She said “Nigeria’s creative industries represent one of our greatest untapped economic resources, with the potential to contribute significantly to GDP growth, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.
“This partnership with Chocolate City exemplifies our commitment to harnessing the power of public-private collaboration to build sustainable creative ecosystems that empower Nigerian talent and showcase our cultural wealth globally.”
Co-founder and Chairman of Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori, highlighted the influence of Afrobeats on Nigeria’s global representation.
He said the partnership would provide support to “create pathways” for the next generation of creatives and also establish the sector’s full potential.
Maikori said “Afrobeats has emerged as Nigeria’s most powerful cultural ambassador, opening doors for our artists on the global stage. Beyond this, Afrobeats also serves as a powerful cultural export and diplomatic resource, enhancing Nigeria’s global reputation.
“This partnership will provide the institutional support and infrastructure needed to sustain this momentum and create pathways for the next generation of creative talents.
“By working with the government, we can address long-standing challenges in distribution, infrastructure, and rights protection that have limited the sector’s full potential.”
The partnership will be implemented through a joint working committee comprising representatives from both organizations.
The collaboration aligns with Chocolate City’s 20th anniversary and supports the Federal Ministry’s Nigeria Destination 2030 agenda, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading global hub for tourism, investment, and cultural exchange by 2030.
Key objectives of the partnership are: develop small-scale live venues across Nigeria; discover and nurture emerging talent; establish global distribution channels for Nigerian content; strengthen intellectual property protections; and support the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy.
The partnership is expected to have a significant impact on the Nigerian creative industry, providing opportunities for emerging artists and promoting Nigerian content globally.
