Participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, have commenced engagements with stakeholders in Kano State as part of a study tour focused on the potential of the creative economy to drive sustainable development.
The participants, led by Brigadier General L.A. Jimoh (Rtd), mni, Member of the Directing Staff at NIPSS, paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, on Monday, August 10, 2026.
The delegation was received on behalf of the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The 10-month course is examining “Economic Diversification and National Development: Leveraging the Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth in Nigeria.”
The Orange Economy, also known as the creative economy, encompasses economic activities driven by creativity, culture, ideas and intellectual property, with the potential to generate products, services, employment and income.
In Kano, the sector covers areas including film, fashion, leather and textile production, crafts, literature, performing arts, tourism and other creative enterprises.
Explaining the purpose of the visit, Brigadier General Jimoh said the participants would engage relevant institutions and stakeholders to gather information that would contribute to a report to be submitted to the President.
He stressed that the exercise was not an investigation of the state but an opportunity to obtain information that could help shape policies for the development of Nigeria’s Orange Economy.
“We are not here to investigate Kano State. This is not an investigative panel. We are simply here as Nigerians to collect information that will help Mr President develop the Orange Economy,” he said.
Responding, Deputy Governor Garo described Kano’s rich cultural heritage as an important economic asset capable of creating opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and investment.
He said the state government was implementing economic empowerment initiatives covering skills acquisition, access to finance, business development services, innovation and market access.
According to him, the initiatives are designed to enable young people to transform their skills and ideas into viable businesses while encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers.
The Deputy Governor said Kano’s cultural and creative resources could contribute significantly to the state’s economic diversification efforts if properly harnessed and connected to investment, finance and markets.
The visit also featured the presentation of commemorative awards to the Governor and Deputy Governor, while Brigadier General Jimoh received a souvenir on behalf of the delegation.
The Deputy Governor assured members of the delegation that individual souvenirs would subsequently be presented to them.
Brigadier General Jimoh expressed appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality extended to the NIPSS participants, describing the engagements planned for the week as promising.
The study tour is expected to provide NIPSS participants with practical insights into Kano’s cultural assets, creative industries and entrepreneurial ecosystem as part of the broader national conversation on leveraging the Orange Economy for sustainable growth.