Nigerian Fuji star Dr Adewale Ayuba commends President Tinubu’s merger of culture and tourism ministries, calling it vital for the creative sector.

Renowned Fuji musician Dr Adewale Ayuba has praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent merger of the tourism and culture ministries as a transformative decision for Nigeria’s creative industry.

Speaking in Lagos on Friday, Ayuba lauded the merger as a “game-changer” that could elevate Nigerian arts and culture on the world stage, particularly in the music sector.

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The reorganisation, announced as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle, sees the establishment of a consolidated Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, following the dismissal of Mrs Lola Ade-John from her role as the former Minister of Tourism.

In a conversation with local reporters, Ayuba shared his enthusiasm for this development, expressing confidence that the new structure will not only boost tourism but also provide an ideal platform for Nigerian creative expressions to gain global recognition.

“President Tinubu has taken a beautiful step by merging the tourism industry with the arts, culture and creative economy because tourism and culture have to operate seamlessly to harness the full potential of the creative industry,” Ayuba stated.

Highlighting the critical role of music as a cultural export, Ayuba urged the new Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy to actively promote cultural exchange programmes, especially in partnership with international creatives.

“Foreigners want to come and discover more about our music. We should create programmes that would attract them,” he said, noting the untapped potential for genres like Fuji, Apala, and Waka to reach broader audiences.

In particular, Ayuba stressed the importance of expanding global appreciation for Fuji music. “Fuji music can be given global prominence by organising cultural exchange programmes between local artistes and those of other countries,” he said.

He also called for increased support for up-and-coming Fuji musicians to gain recognition, suggesting that ministry-backed initiatives could help them achieve lasting success in both Nigerian and international markets.

As Nigeria’s culture and tourism sectors look to synergise under this new ministry, Ayuba’s vision of a future where Nigerian music enjoys greater international exposure could soon become a reality.