NIPSS alumni seek stronger focus on creative economy

The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) has pledged its support for the forthcoming National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy, describing Nigeria’s creative sector as an untapped source of economic growth.

President of the Association, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, made the call in Abuja on Thursday when he received the organising committee of the forthcoming National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) in collaboration with Bruit Costaud.

Okafor said AANI would use its extensive membership network across the public and private sectors to mobilise support for the summit, scheduled to hold from October 6 to 8 at the National Theatre in Lagos.

He described the summit as strategic, arguing that Nigeria had significant creative talent that could generate economic value if properly supported.

“The Summit on the Orange Economy is a very key and strategic summit because the Orange Economy, or what we call the Creative Economy, is a concept that people have forgotten, but you find out that we are so endowed with creative talents,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s creative economy has the potential to surpass the oil industry in economic value and national impact if the right policies, investments, infrastructure and human capital are put in place.

He cited the country’s music, film, sports and performing arts industries as examples of areas with significant untapped potential.

“Our music industry is the best. Of course, in the last World Cup, Burna Boy was also playing alongside Shakira. Then you talk about Nollywood. You find out that Nigeria’s Nollywood is second to Hollywood. We have overtaken Bollywood of India,” he said.

He said the National Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies had tasked Set 48 with researching the Orange Economy and identifying global best practices that could help Nigeria unlock the sector’s potential.

The AANI president also urged the Federal Government to pay greater attention to implementing research findings from NIPSS, saying recommendations from the institute should be translated into concrete policies and actionable programmes.

“We have research projects on every problem of Nigeria. Currently, we are talking about the Orange Economy,” he said.