The Nigerian authorities is within the last levels of revising its Nationwide Coverage on Tradition, a doc that has remained largely unchanged since 1988, the nation’s Minister of Artwork, Tradition, Tourism, and Inventive Economic system, Hannatu Musawa, introduced Friday.
The coverage evaluation, undertaken in collaboration with the Nigerian Financial Summit Group (NESG) and the United Nations Instructional, Scientific and Cultural Group (UNESCO), seeks to modernize Nigeria’s strategy to cultural preservation and the inventive economic system.
“The doc was final reviewed in 1988 and has remained in draft kind for over 37 years regardless of its significance in shaping Nigeria’s cultural and artistic industries,” Musawa stated in a press release.
A Cultural Coverage Drafting Committee was inaugurated in July 2024, bringing collectively over 100 specialists divided into sub-groups to analysis and develop a framework for the revised coverage.
The committee accomplished an preliminary digital drafting part in December 2024, resulting in a last spherical of in-person discussions to refine the doc.
The subsequent step, in line with Musawa, is a Stakeholders’ Engagement and Validation Train, after which the coverage might be submitted to the Federal Govt Council (FEC) for approval.
“In recognition of the urgency of those reforms, the ministry initiated a complete evaluation course of to make sure that Nigeria’s cultural framework aligns with international greatest practices and displays the evolving inventive economic system,” Musawa stated.
She added that the trouble aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reposition tradition as a pillar of nationwide id and financial development.
Musawa emphasised that the revised coverage will mirror modern developments, significantly the shift from a inventive trade to a inventive economic system, which locations better emphasis on cultural sectors as vital drivers of financial growth.
“The nationwide coverage on tradition serves as a authorized framework guiding the preservation, promotion, and growth of Nigeria’s cultural heritage,” she stated.
The ministry’s partnership with NESG and UNESCO has been instrumental in guaranteeing an inclusive and well-structured evaluation course of, she added.
By way of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024, NESG has offered analysis, technical assist, and stakeholder engagement methods to make sure that the ultimate coverage meets each nationwide and worldwide requirements.
In the meantime, UNESCO has supplied technical help, coaching, and skilled steerage to make sure that the revised coverage aligns with international greatest practices.
The group has additionally facilitated workshops and coverage growth periods, specializing in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage whereas fostering financial alternatives.
Coverage specialists say the evaluation is many years overdue. Ikenna Nwosu, a facilitator at NESG who participated within the drafting course of, stated the delay had left the sector lagging behind in governance and coverage assist.
“For 37 years, this coverage remained unchanged regardless of the speedy transformation of the cultural and artistic sectors,” Nwosu stated. “Ideally, such insurance policies needs to be reviewed each 5 to 10 years. What we’re witnessing at this time is a long-overdue intervention.”
He emphasised that Nigeria’s cultural and artistic economic system has expanded considerably, but authorities insurance policies have struggled to maintain tempo with the trade’s development and international alternatives.
