The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to “urgently” implement policies that will enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s creative industry as a major revenue earner. At the plenary on Thursday, the House also called on Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed to “as a matter of priority” create and execute policies to strengthen the sector. Following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by member Shina Peller, the House further urged the federal government to increase the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Information and Culture in the 2024 budget estimate for optimal performance.
The motion, titled “Need to Strengthen the Nigerian Creative Industry,” highlighted that, as the country seeks to diversify its economy away from oil dependence, the creative industry already provides a significant source of employment, revenue, and growth. Peller, an investor in the entertainment industry, noted that the United Nations identifies the creative economy as a driver of employment, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion. He cited data indicating that, in 2013, the creative industries across 11 sectors in five world regions contributed $2.3 billion to global GDP and employed over 29 million people. Despite representing only 3 percent of global GDP, the creative sector generated more revenue than traditional cash generators such as telecommunications.
According to Peller, the British Council’s stakeholder discussions produced a preliminary delineation of Nigeria’s creative industry, identifying sectors such as advertising, architecture (interior décor, landscaping), arts and crafts, fashion and design, home video (film), television and radio, music and performing arts (carnivals, dance, drama, festivals, stand‑up comedy), publishing (book fairs, e‑resources, literature), and tourism and hospitality (cuisine, museums, monuments, nightclubs, event management). He also referenced a 2016 National Bureau of Statistics report showing that Nigeria’s GDP in 2015 amounted to N94 trillion, with the creative industry contributing about N5 trillion—29.6 percent from broadcasting and 22.8 percent from motion pictures, sound recording, and music.
Peller emphasized that Nigeria’s film sector, Nollywood, is a major force in the country’s economic growth and the strongest claim to global influence within the creative industries. Nollywood contributes roughly 2 percent to GDP, generates annual revenue of N208 billion, and employs over one million people, making it the second‑largest employer after agriculture. It is the world’s second‑largest film industry after Bollywood and accounts for 11 percent of Nigeria’s non‑oil exports, producing approximately 40 films weekly.
The third sector examined was the Nigerian music industry, which produces over 550 albums annually worldwide. He recalled the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo‑Kuti as an iconic figure, while noting recent achievements such as Burna Boy’s Best International Act win at the 2019 BET Awards, his nomination for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards, and his Best International Act win at the 2021 BET Awards. Additionally, top artist Davido’s album “Timeless” amassed over 10 million user‑generated playlists on Spotify and recorded more than 12 million streams in 24 hours—the first album to achieve such a feat.
Peller concluded by expressing the House’s concern that the creative industry is hampered by a lack of coherent policy. He recalled that in 2011 President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to refocus the creative industries for excellence. Minister Lai Mohammed later announced a tripartite initiative involving the government, the British Council, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation to map the creative industry, recognizing its potential to create employment, generate income, and boost the economy.
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