The Federal Government has pledged support for a National Summit and Exhibition on Nigeria’s Orange Economy, as policymakers turn to the creative sector as a potential engine for economic diversification, investment and youth employment.
The commitment followed a meeting between the leadership of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in Abuja. The summit is part of research being undertaken by participants of NIPSS Senior Executive Course 48.
NIPSS Director-General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, said the research team had identified about 48 areas within the creative economy. He said study visits across Nigeria and other countries had provided insights into how creative industries can be developed and used to create economic opportunities.
Omotayo described the Orange Economy as a broad sector covering creative industries, cultural production, arts, entertainment and intellectual property. He said the proposed summit would bring together government officials, creatives, entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders to examine the sector’s potential and develop practical strategies.
Idris welcomed the choice of the creative economy as the focus of the research, describing it as an important avenue for economic diversification, job creation and sustainable growth. He said the sector also fits into President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of building a trillion-dollar Nigerian economy.
The minister said his ministry and its agencies would support the research and proposed summit, stressing that effective communication would be crucial to showcasing Nigeria’s creative opportunities locally and internationally. He also highlighted the National Orientation Agency’s nationwide presence as a channel for gathering feedback from communities and understanding public needs.
Idris said President Tinubu frequently asks what Nigerians are saying about government policies, underscoring the importance of public engagement in policymaking. The ministry will designate an official to work with NIPSS as preparations for the summit continue.
The government is also looking to the Orange Economy as a possible response to Nigeria’s youth unemployment challenge. Omotayo said the expansion of creative and digital industries could give young Nigerians more opportunities to work as creators, innovators and entrepreneurs rather than remaining only consumers.
NYSC Director-General Brig Gen Olakunle Nafiu, who was part of the engagement, welcomed the initiative and pledged the Corps’ continued support. The wider collaboration is expected to connect research with government policy and help turn Nigeria’s growing creative sector into more concrete economic opportunities.
