Nigeria took a defining step onto the world’s cultural stage as the Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, to deepen cultural cooperation between both nations. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh.
The dialogue centered on strategic cultural exchange, focusing on archaeological loans, creative industry collaboration, and capacity building. The proposed partnership will enable Nigerian historical works, such as Nok terracotta, Benin court art, and other classical heritage collections, to be showcased in major Saudi cultural institutions. In return, Nigeria will benefit from shared expertise in museum management, cultural preservation, and the rapidly growing Gulf entertainment ecosystem.
Minister Musawa emphasized that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s creative economy growth plan, which positions art and culture as engines of national development. The collaboration also offers Nigerian filmmakers, designers, and performers expanded commercial opportunities in the Middle East under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 cultural renaissance.
This cultural accord is widely viewed as a strategic soft-power victory, one that elevates Nigerian culture while opening new global markets for its creative talent.
