EU-NIGERIA CULTURE DEAL TARGETS JOBS, DIGITAL GROWTH IN CREATIVE INDUSTRY

EU, Nigeria seal €20m deal to power creative industry and cultural growth.

Nigeria Eu Creative economy Cultural infrastructure Youth employment Investment.
Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa
Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa


Nigeria’s creative economy is set for a transformative lift as the European Union (EU) commits €20 million to bolster the country’s cultural and digital creative sectors, an investment aimed at sparking innovation, driving youth employment, and modernising cultural infrastructure.

Unveiled during a strategic meeting between Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa in Abuja, the partnership goes beyond cultural promotion. It is a deliberate economic intervention focused on museums, film festivals, digital platforms, and artistic initiatives that can translate Nigeria’s rich heritage into sustainable development and social change.

“The creative sector is not just about art; it’s a tool for national unity, global positioning, and economic resilience,” Minister Musawa stated. She emphasized the importance of accurate cultural data, revealing that ongoing mapping efforts will enable smarter investment, sharper policy, and measurable outcomes.

As part of the initiative, the government will commission a “Unity Song” featuring top Nigerian artists, a cultural project designed to foster social cohesion, celebrate diversity, and respond creatively to insecurity and division.

In addition, plans are underway for a high-level Creative Economy Summit, which will gather stakeholders across Nigeria’s arts and entertainment ecosystem. The summit aims to align vision, pool investment, and develop clear pathways for capacity building, infrastructure support, and digital skills training.

Both sides underscored the need for culturally relevant yet globally competitive frameworks, particularly in empowering youth and women in creative entrepreneurship. Ambassador Mignot described the partnership as a “symbol of Europe’s confidence in Nigeria’s talent and innovation potential.”

This renewed EU-Nigeria engagement affirms culture as a dynamic economic sector, one capable of not only preserving identity but powering inclusive growth and elevating Nigeria’s voice on the global creative stage.

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