By Deborah Enwerem
Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, has urged stakeholders in the sector to build systems that will convert Nigeria’s vast creative talent and intellectual property into sustainable economic value.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Musawa made the call in her keynote speech at the 2026 Creative and Entertainment Industry Summit and Awards (CEISA) on Saturday in Abuja.
The CEISA 2026 had the theme: “Artificial Intelligence, Creativity and the Future of Africa’s Creative Economy”.
It brought together creative entrepreneurs, regulators, industry players and other stakeholders to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on Africa’s creative and entertainment industry.
Represented by her Chief of Staff, Mr Chidi Nwanwene, the minister said the creative and cultural industries could drive economic diversification, job creation, youth empowerment and global influence if supported by appropriate policies and investment.
According to her, Nigeria’s creative economy cannot achieve its full potential on talent alone, but requires stronger structure, skills development platforms and better protection of intellectual property.
“Creativity is not merely a form of expression; it is an economic asset capable of creating jobs, generating wealth, strengthening national identity and projecting Nigeria’s influence globally.
“Let us move from conversation to implementation. Let us transform ideas into programmes, talent into enterprises and intellectual property into sustainable economic value,” she said.
Musawa identified access to finance, skills development, intellectual property protection, innovation, market expansion and strong institutions as essential to the growth of the sector.
The minister also called for improved research, documentation and digitisation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage to support policymaking and preserve the country’s institutional memory.
According to her, the ministry will continue working with stakeholders to help creatives acquire skills, access finance and technology, protect their intellectual property and reach wider markets.
Also speaking, the Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr John Asein, said the commission would deepen consultations with creators, technology companies and other stakeholders on artificial intelligence and copyright.
“Our responsibility is to build an environment in which innovation and copyright protection reinforce one another,” Asein said.
The director-general, represented by Mr Amos Abutu, an Assistant Chief Copyright Officer, said the commission would support technological initiatives while ensuring that creators’ rights were protected.
Asein said the commission would modernise copyright administration and digital enforcement.
He added that NCC would collaborate with its African counterparts to strengthen intellectual property protection and implement relevant copyright reforms under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
According to him, artificial intelligence will reshape the creative economy, but policy, investment, skills, continental cooperation and effective copyright protection will determine its impact.
He said Africa needed to enter the AI era not as a supplier of free raw materials or a passive consumer.
He urged that the continent must present itself as a creator, innovator and owner of the intellectual property that would define the next phase of the global economy.
According to him, the commission’s objective is to ensure that technology amplifies talent, while creators receive a fair share of the value generated from their work.
Earlier, the CEISA convener, Mr Ikechukwu Agbaegbu, said the summit provided a platform to discuss challenges in the creative and entertainment industry and develop practical solutions.
Agbaegbu announced plans for an AI masterclass in partnership with the University of Abuja from Nov. 19 to 21.
He also announced the launch of the CEISA magazine and said the organisation had established a creative library to support research and knowledge production.
The event featured Lisa Russell, Ujuaku Akukwe and Dr T.J. Seaman as facilitators, while former Sen. Shehu Sani was announced face of the magazine.
The summit ended with an awards presentation to stakeholders drawn from different industries in the creative economy.(NAN)
Edited by Joshua Olomu
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