The Nigerian authorities is within the remaining phases 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 Financial system, Hannatu Musawa, introduced Friday.
The coverage evaluation, undertaken in collaboration with the Nigerian {Economic} Summit Group (NESG) and the United Nations Instructional, Scientific and Cultural Group (UNESCO), seeks to modernize Nigeria’s strategy to cultural preservation and the artistic 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 inventive industries,” Musawa stated in an announcement.
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 remaining spherical of in-person discussions to refine the doc.
The subsequent step, in accordance with Musawa, is a Stakeholders’ Engagement and Validation Train, after which the coverage will likely 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 artistic 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 identification and {economic} progress.
Musawa emphasised that the revised coverage will replicate modern developments, notably the shift from a artistic business to a artistic economic system, which locations higher emphasis on cultural sectors as vital drivers of {economic} 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 making certain an inclusive and well-structured evaluation course of, she added.
By way of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024, NESG has supplied 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 professional steerage to make sure that the revised coverage aligns with international greatest practices.
The group has additionally facilitated workshops and coverage growth classes, specializing in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage whereas fostering {economic} alternatives.
Coverage specialists say the evaluation is a long time 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 fast transformation of the cultural and inventive sectors,” Nwosu stated. “Ideally, such insurance policies ought to be reviewed each 5 to 10 years. What we’re witnessing right now is a long-overdue intervention.”
He emphasised that Nigeria’s cultural and inventive economic system has expanded considerably, but authorities insurance policies have struggled to maintain tempo with the business’s progress and international alternatives.
