The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a world-class National Arts, Cultural, Creative, Tourism and Sports Innovation Hub within the Moshood Abiola National Stadium precinct, Abuja.
The agreement, sealed on Thursday in Abuja, is aimed at harnessing Nigeria’s creative, cultural and sporting potential to drive youth empowerment, national development and global visibility.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq., hailed the partnership as a “new dawn” for Nigeria’s creative and sporting sectors.
“Since Mallam Shehu Dikko came on board, we’ve had back-to-back wins in sports. Thank you for coming to this office to discuss how we can open a partnership,” Musawa said.
She added: “For young Nigerians, one of the things the President has always focused on is building a better future for Nigeria, and the best way to do that is to diversify in the areas of sports and the creative industry. This partnership has the power to empower the young generation, teach them about our culture, and provide capacity building. If this can be replicated in every state, it will speak to a new dawn.”
The Minister emphasised that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to boost job creation, strengthen the economy, and tackle insecurity through strategic investments in the creative and sports industries.
On his part, the Chairman of NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, underscored the Commission’s commitment to the success of the project, stressing the need to transform the stadium into a vibrant hub of activities.
“We need to invest and revamp our sports facilities to have around 4,000 activities around the clock. This project will showcase our history, sports, and culture, and we are committed to its success,” Dikko declared.
He further assured: “We will turn the stadium into a sports city, leveraging existing structures to build value for creatives. I assure you of my team’s diligence to provide all the support needed to succeed in this project.”
The hub is expected to host a variety of world-class facilities including a National Museum of Arts and Culture, Entertainment Arena and Performance Centre, Youth Creative and Entrepreneurship Centre, Eco-Villas and Eco-Lodges, Family Recreational Park, Cultural Lounges and Marketplaces, Mounted Games Arena, and Sports Heritage Pavilion.
According to officials, the project will run as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with both FMACTCE and NSC providing institutional support for government approvals and policy alignment.
With this collaboration, government hopes to foster inter-agency dialogue, integrate sports with arts, culture and tourism, and attract both local and international investment.
“This ecosystem we are building with the museum structure, tourism sector, and creative industry will be beneficial for Nigerians,” Musawa concluded.