The Federal Government has pledged its support for the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, to harness Nigeria’s Orange Economy as a catalyst for job creation, entrepreneurship, economic diversification and sustainable development.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the commitment when the Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, led a delegation from the Institute on a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja.
The delegation was at the ministry to discuss the Institute’s Senior Executive Course 48 research on the Orange Economy and plans for a National Summit and Exhibition on the sector.
Mr Idris commended NIPSS for selecting the Orange Economy and entrepreneurship as the focus of its research, describing the sector as an important avenue for economic diversification, youth employment and sustainable prosperity.
He assured the Institute that the Ministry and its agencies would support the research and proposed summit, stressing that effective communication would be critical to showcasing the opportunities within Nigeria’s creative economy to citizens and the international community.
The Minister also highlighted the role of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in providing feedback on the views and aspirations of Nigerians at the grassroots through its nationwide presence.
He said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration remained committed to listening to citizens and making necessary adjustments to government policies and programmes in the national interest.
Mr Idris further assured NIPSS that the Ministry would designate an official to work with the Institute to strengthen coordination and facilitate effective collaboration as preparations for the summit progress.
Earlier, the NIPSS Director-General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, said the Institute was seeking the Ministry’s partnership for its research and the proposed National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy.
Professor Omotayo said the research was aimed at examining how the Orange Economy could contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation and support the Federal Government’s ambition of building a trillion-dollar economy.
He disclosed that participants of Senior Executive Course 48 had undertaken research visits across Nigeria and several countries to examine how creative industries were being developed and leveraged for economic growth.
According to him, the proposed summit would bring together government representatives, creatives, entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders to explore the potential of the sector.
Professor Omotayo said NIPSS had identified about 48 subdivisions within the Orange Economy, stressing that each had the potential to contribute to economic development.
He noted that Nigeria’s growing creative and digital industries could play a significant role in addressing youth unemployment and creating new economic opportunities.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to partnering with NIPSS and other strategic institutions to translate research and policy recommendations into practical opportunities for Nigerians, particularly young people, while strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global creative economy.
Among those present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr Binyerem C. Ukaire; former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; senior officials of the Ministry and NIPSS, as well as representatives of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.