Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy has signed a five-year partnership with Ananse Internet Group to establish a network of design and innovation hubs.
Sealed through a MoU, the partnership kick-starts Ananse Centre for Design, with the first hub in Lagos this year.
The initiative, the ministry said, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and will drive diversification, jobs, and youth empowerment through fashion, leather, and digital storytelling value chains.
The Minister, Hannatu Musawa, said the partnership is a step in bridging creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship for national development.
“This partnership is a strategic move that embodies the spirit of Renewed Hope Agenda. It is about investing in our creative talent and giving them tools to thrive, compete globally, and contribute to the economy,” she noted.
The ministry will provide policy guidance, funding, and infrastructure in select locations, while Ananse will deploy its technical expertise, digital platforms, and internationally certified training modules to run the centres.
The first creative hub is in Lagos this year and will serve as a prototype for similar centres in the six zones. The centres will target young creatives and micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, especially women and youth-led businesses.
The programme will train and support over 5,000 in fashion design, leatherwork, business development, and digital commerce. Beneficiaries will be linked to Ananse’s cross-border e-commerce platform to access international fashion and creative markets.
The Ministry and Ananse also disclosed plans to jointly conduct research and gather data to inform policy decisions that will enhance the growth and regulation of Nigeria’s creative industries.
A joint committee will be set up to oversee implementation and monitor key performance indicators, including the number of creatives trained, start-ups launched, jobs created, and local-global industry collaborations.
With the partnership, government officials say Nigeria is taking a concrete step toward positioning itself as a continental hub for creative excellence and digital innovation.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
