Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa disclosed this while presenting the 2024 Appropriation Budget draft to the Senate Committee on Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy at the National Assembly on Thursday.
Musawa noted that the establishment of these two edifices ranks high on the Ministry's list of projects will generate employment for both creatives and the broader Nigerian population.
She clarified that the realization of these goals is contingent upon the Senate's approval of the 2024 Appropriation Budget.
The Minister also highlighted the Ministry's substantial underfunding and appealed to the Senate Committee to enhance its allocation in the 2024 budget.
“The Ministry has been grossly underfunded and we will be unable to achieve anything of significance without the right funding. The potential of this Ministry is astronomical if we tap into that so we would like to see what we can do at the legislative level to give the ministry the kind of funding and support that we require to achieve our vision within the roadmap, to be able to achieve the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President”.
Inline with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry has committed to an aspirational target of N100b contribution to the nation’s GDP by 2030 and also to the establishment of major projects, which include the building of a National Theatre and National Museum in Abuja among other projects.
Earlier, Barrister Musawa emphasized the Ministry’s drive to reposition Nigeria through its numerous proposed projects.
She explained importance and potential of the Creative Economy and the Ministry’s core functions which includes attracting foreign investment, cultural promotion and preservation, amongst others, in line with sect. 21 of the 1999 Constitution.
“We have set high Key Performance Indicators for the ministry and we are ready to hit the aspirational targets which we have set for ourselves. This is a new ministry which is also trying to create jobs and in addition, establish an Intellectual Property Framework which will harness the culture and creativity of Nigeria. This, therefore will require adequate financial provision”, Musawa stated.
