By Abubakar Yunusa
The Nigerian government aims to learn from China’s success in cultural branding and creative industries, leveraging these insights to boost Nigeria’s tourism and cultural sectors, Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, announced on Sunday.
Speaking at a New Year gala celebrating China-Nigeria friendship, hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, Musawa highlighted China’s global influence through its cultural exports, such as food, martial arts, and cinema.
“Everywhere you go in the world, you see an aspect of Chinese culture,” Musawa said.
“This is something we want to explore—how we can monetize our own culture in the way China has done.”
The minister emphasized Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and expressed optimism about forging co-production agreements and capacity-building initiatives between the two nations.
“We’re discussing projects that focus on infrastructure for the creative industry and cultural sectors,” she added.
“It’s essential for Nigeria to tap into China’s experience in branding and tourism, with the aim of revitalizing our own creative industries.”
Chinese Counsellor Yang Jianxing underscored the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges in enhancing China-Nigeria relations.
He noted that the China Cultural Centre would host a series of activities in 2025 to promote culture, tourism, and education, aligning with the “Beijing Action Plan” under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
“These initiatives aim to deepen the friendship between the people of China and Nigeria,” Yang said.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China Relations, Jafaru Yakubu, praised the long-standing ties between the two nations, stressing the need for stronger cultural and legislative collaboration.
“This celebration is geared toward rebuilding stronger cultural ties,” Yakubu said.
“The Nigeria-China Relations Group will continue to explore legislative means to strengthen bilateral relations across sectors.”
Also,Nsikan Paul, director of Drum Majors for Peace, emphasized the role of cultural diplomacy in fostering peace and understanding.
“Peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of dialogue and collective action,” Paul stated.
“Through cultural exchange and advocacy, we aim to empower youth and promote inclusivity.”
Meanwhile,the event, marked by performances and cultural displays, reaffirmed the growing partnership between Nigeria and China, with both nations pledging to expand cooperation in culture, tourism, and creative industries.