Culture

$200m Afreximbank fund to boost Nigeria’s creative economy from June 2025

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2025

Nigeria’s creative economy gets a $200m boost from Afreximbank, set to become operational on June 1, 2025, to drive sector growth

Nigeria’s arts, culture, tourism, and creative sectors are set for a major transformation as the $200m African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) fund becomes operational on 1 June 2025.

The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, announced the development in a statement released on Wednesday by her Special Assistant on Compliance and Coordination, Jummai Ali.

According to Musawa, the funding will be directly injected into Nigeria’s creative economy to accelerate its growth and global competitiveness.

“As part of the funding effort, the minister has secured a commitment of $200m from Afreximbank, which will accelerate the building of the cultural and creative industries,” the statement read.

The minister also revealed ongoing discussions with international investors, following the unveiling of the ministry’s strategic policies aimed at growing Nigeria’s creative economy into a $100bn industry by 2030.

To support this ambitious goal, the government is mobilising $2bn from global and local sources to boost job creation and expand the sector’s reach.

Musawa outlined the ministry’s four strategic pillars driving the economic diversification project:

– **Data-Driven Insights:** Through the D-30 projects, enabling evidence-based policy and investment decisions.
– **Stakeholder Collaboration and Policy Reforms:** Strengthening partnerships across public and private sectors.
– **Infrastructure Modernisation:** Upgrading creative infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
– **Global Cultural Promotion:** Launching the “Nigeria Everywhere” brand to market the country’s rich cultural heritage worldwide.

These initiatives aim to double the tourism sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, create over two million jobs by 2030, and position the nation among the world’s top 20 creative economies.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria into a global tourism and creative hub, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s *Renewed Hope* agenda for economic diversification and job creation.

Up Next

Omoge Asa 2025: Cultural pageant returns to celebrate yoruba heritage

Don't Miss

Ijebu State Proposal: Monarchs inaugurate implementation committees

Click to comment

Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”