National Economic Council Orders States And FCT To Contribute N200 Million Each For Cultural Project

The National Economic Council (NEC) has directed all 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory to contribute N200 million each toward the Renewed Hope Cultural Project and Naija Season. Naija Season is the country’s first unified national cultural and tourism calendar. The resolution was among several decisions taken at the 157th meeting of NEC, held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday.

The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy made a presentation to the Council describing Naija Season as an aggregation of festivals, cultural events, tourism attractions and creative economy activities of all 36 states and the FCT under one coordinated national platform. The ministry told Council that the Renewed Hope Cultural Project focuses on the preservation and restoration of historic sites, palaces and monuments, capacity building, the establishment of Renewed Hope Creative and Cultural Villages, and the promotion of Nigerian culture and tourism assets nationally. 

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The projected economic impact includes up to one million jobs by 2030, increased diaspora inflows and stronger global cultural influence for Nigeria. If all 36 states and the FCT contribute the approved amount, the sub national pool alone would generate N7.4 billion naira. 

The Vice President told Council members that NEC is the nation’s economic engine room where federal and state governments must convert the Renewed Hope Agenda into practical outcomes. He said history will not ask how many meetings were held but what changed because the council met.