PHOTO NEWS: Musawa showcases Nigeria’s culture, creative economy at Canex 2024 in Algiers

Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, was in Algiers at the Afreximbank-supported Canex 2024, making a strong case for investment in Nigeria’s creative sector.

The Minister used the Nigeria Pavilion at the event to showcase Nigeria’s rich culture and heritage to the rest of the continent and the world.

Hannatu wrote on her social media handles on Tuesday afternoon:

“This past week, I had the honour of attending CANEX Wknd 2024, hosted by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Algiers, Algeria.

“The Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy Pavilion at the event was a celebration of Nigeria’s rich creative talents, showcasing exhibitions from 25 Nigerian creatives across fashion, visual arts, film, and beyond.

“The Nigeria Destination2030 pavilion wasn’t just a display of artistic excellence but a testament to our country’s commitment to harnessing the creative economy as a key driver of national growth.

“As part of the Ministerial Roundtable, I joined over 15 ministers from across Africa and the Caribbean to discuss ways to empower our cultural and creative industries (CCIs) for sustainable economic impact. During the ‘Collective Disruption’ summit, I had the privilege of delivering a keynote address on strengthening Africa’s fashion and textile ecosystem.

“I emphasised the urgency of reclaiming the continent’s fashion narrative by reducing dependence on imported textiles and fostering a self-reliant industry. With 90% of the Ankara fabric consumed in Africa currently imported, the continent loses nearly $3 billion annually.

“The summit inspired renewed dedication to establishing textile parks powered by sustainable energy, protecting traditional designs through updated intellectual property laws, and equipping young designers with the skills to lead Africa’s fashion industry on the global stage.

“These conversations reflect Afreximbank’s unified approach to boosting the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) across Africa and the Caribbean, including the Bahamas.

“As Nigeria continues to play a leading role in this creative renaissance, I am fully committed to ensuring that our country not only benefits from these opportunities but also champions the collective cause of driving sustainable growth in the region’s creative economy.”