Private investment in culture sector can revitalise Nigeria’s economy, says Abdullahi Muku

Abdullahi Muku, former director-general of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), says private sector investment in the culture sector could prove pivotal in propelling Nigeria’s economy to a trillion dollar one.

In a statement issued by Oji Onoko, Muku expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s handling of the culture and art sector.

He commended the renaming of the overseeing ministry to the ministry of art, culture and creative economy, by President Bola Tinubu.

“This is very auspicious. I am glad that the President Ahmed Tinubu led administration has finally given the sector its central place in the scheme of things. This is well deserved,” he said.

“This is a recognition of the role of culture and the creative economy in Nigeria’s growing economy.”

Muku also highlighted the recent renovation of the national theatre in Lagos by the bankers committee.

He urged the committee to transfer the management of the structure to arts professionals, under the current national theatre management, to enable it to host major programmes and serve as a tourist attraction.

Muku said there is need for similar private sector intervention in the visual arts sub-sector, adding that the NGA currently lacks a suitable facility to house its collection of nearly 4,000 artworks.

“The National Gallery of Art (NGA) up till now does not have a befitting edifice to house the almost 4,000 artworks it collected on behalf of Nigeria; the national collection,” he said.

“It has become urgent for such a structure to be built and government cannot do it alone. I believe the time has come for the private sector to work with government to make this a reality.”

He said with the right support, the culture sector can significantly contribute to Nigeria’s GDP and the government’s vision of a trillion dollar economy.

“That we have a sector that is vibrant; that people will be proud of, to see that art is pushed to that level where every parent would be proud seeing his child studying the course and taking to the profession,” he added.