FG launches CLAP to boost Nigeria’s creative economy
By Tosin Brown
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy has launched an ambitious plan to position Nigeria as a global leader in the art, culture, and creative sectors. This initiative, the Creative Leap Accelerator Program (CLAP), was recently unveiled by Minister Barr. Hannatu Musawa.
At the launch, Musawa highlighted CLAP’s vision to contribute $100 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2030, representing a twenty-fold increase from the current state. She emphasized the importance of capacity building, incubation, and collaboration in achieving CLAP’s objectives.
“CLAP is designed to foster an environment where talent can thrive, ideas can flourish, and new industries can emerge,” Musawa stated. “Through comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources, we aim to empower our creatives to excel and innovate.”
The minister detailed CLAP’s threefold goals: capacity building, incubation and innovation, and collaboration and partnerships. She mentioned the establishment of creative clusters and centers of excellence that will serve as incubators for new ideas and enterprises.
Musawa also announced strategic partnerships with renowned organizations such as Afrexim Bank and Google, which will provide a wide array of resources, expertise, and opportunities for Nigerian creatives.
Additionally, CLAP will synergize with the National Council for Arts and Culture’s Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship project to ensure a unified approach to empowering Nigerian youth. “This hybrid management model will allow us to effectively address local challenges and harness the unique cultural strengths of each region,” Musawa said.
The success of CLAP will rely on robust legislation and policy frameworks. The Ministry has initiated work on the Intellectual Property Policy and the Cultural & Creative Economy Policies to provide a supportive framework for creatives.
“Data mapping is also central to CLAP’s strategy,” Musawa added, “with the Origins initiative providing a comprehensive platform for collecting, storing, and analyzing data related to Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.”
