By Michael Onjewu, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa says Nigeria will tap into China’s expertise in branding its culture globally in a bid to boost growth in the creative sector.
Speaking at a gala celebrating China-Nigeria friendship at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja on Saturday, Musawa noted that discussions are underway for a co-production agreement between Nigeria and China, which will facilitate training capacity building across 49 sub-sectors.
Musawa emphasized the importance of expanding cultural relations between the two nations, which date back to 1971.
The minister also highlighted the potential for Nigeria to learn from China’s success in tourism, citing the Great Wall of China as a prime example. With Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, the minister believes that the country can benefit from China’s expertise in promoting tourism and bringing wealth into the industry.
“The planned collaborations are expected to yield significant announcements in 2025, marking a new era in China-Nigeria cultural relations, Musawa said.
“We’ve already started discussing doing a co-production agreement between Nigeria and China. We hope to see how we can tap into the wealth of experience that China has had in terms of how they have branded their culture.”
In his remarks, Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor of the China Cultural Center emphasized the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges in strengthening the friendship between China and Nigeria. He expressed hope the China Cultural Centre would become a symbol of China-Nigeria friendship and a hub for cultural exchange activities.
Yang also noted that in 2025, the centre will host a series of colourful exchange activities focusing on culture, tourism, education, and other fields.
Earlier in his remarks, Nsikan Paul, Executive Director of Drum Majors for Peace said the gala was organized to celebrate the unity, harmony, and unwavering partnership between China and Africa, particularly Nigeria.
“This event is a testament to what we can achieve when hearts are open, and hands are joined across borders to build a world rooted in peace, tolerance, and inclusivity,” he said.
Co-hosted by the China Cultural Center and Drum Majors for Peace, the event attended by distinguished personalities from both countries, featured musical performances and the presentation of awards to deserving individuals and corporate bodies for their contributions to promoting China-Nigeria friendship.
