The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) has called on the Nigerian government to strengthen security across the country, warning that insecurity could hinder the growth of the nation’s creative economy and entrepreneurship.
AANI President, Emmanuel Obi Okafor, made the call during the fifth Distinguished AANI Alumni Lecture held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
Okafor said a stable and secure environment was essential for encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation, investment and sustainable economic development. He noted that Nigeria’s creative industries had significant potential to create jobs, support businesses, stimulate economic growth and enhance the country’s cultural influence globally.
He urged the government to increase investment in skills development, infrastructure, funding, digital connectivity and intellectual property protection. According to him, national security should go beyond protecting lives and property to include economic opportunities, education, human capital development, social inclusion and the protection of creative businesses.
The Director-General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, said the annual lecture had become an important platform for discussing policy issues and developing practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
Omotayo noted that Nigeria’s creative talents and entrepreneurial potential could contribute significantly to economic transformation if the right institutional and security frameworks were put in place.
He said, “Ideas require institutions, innovation requires investment, entrepreneurship requires confidence, and confidence flourishes only where security prevails.”
The NIPSS director-general described security as an essential foundation for economic transformation and called for stronger institutions and coordinated government policies.
The keynote speaker, Emmanuel Jaiyeola, also identified the Orange Economy as an avenue for achieving inclusive and sustainable development. He said creativity, culture, innovation and intellectual property could boost employment, diversify the economy, empower young people and promote social inclusion.
Jaiyeola identified Nigeria’s youthful population, cultural diversity, creative talent and expanding digital ecosystem as major advantages that could help the country develop its creative sector.
However, he listed poor infrastructure, limited access to finance, weak intellectual property protection, inadequate skills, fragmented policies and insecurity among the major obstacles facing the industry.
He described insecurity as the sector’s most widespread challenge and urged greater cooperation among government agencies, private organisations, educational institutions and creative industry stakeholders.
Jaiyeola also called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship programmes, skills development and the protection of intellectual property.
Speaking separately, the Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Issa Aremu, stressed the ability of the creative industry to create employment opportunities.
Aremu advocated the formalisation of Nigeria’s informal sector, saying it would improve regulation, access to funding, social protection, security and institutional support for entrepreneurs.
He further urged closer cooperation between creative industry stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
Aremu also called for stronger protection of digital activities and creative assets, while encouraging stakeholders to make use of relevant international frameworks. He, however, cautioned against viewing Nigeria’s security situation only from the perspective of insecurity, urging recognition of efforts and progress recorded by the government and security agencies.