The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a National Arts, Cultural, Creative, Tourism and Sports Innovation Hub within the Moshood Abiola National Stadium precinct in Abuja.

The MoU, signed on Thursday in Abuja, is aimed at harnessing the creative, cultural, and sports sectors to drive national development, youth empowerment, and global visibility.

The planned Hub will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a National Museum of Arts and Culture, Entertainment Arena and Performance Centre, Youth Creative and Entrepreneurship Centre, Eco-Villas and Eco-Lodges, Family Recreational Park, Cultural Lounges and Marketplaces, Mounted Games Arena, and a Sports Heritage Pavilion.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, expressed optimism that the partnership would open new frontiers for youth development and the economy. She commended NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, for his role in advancing sports in Nigeria.

“Since Mallam Shehu Dikko came on board, we’ve had back-to-back wins in sports. Partnering with the sports industry through this MoU will bring new focus and ideas. This partnership has the power to empower the young generation, teach them about our culture, and provide capacity building,” Musawa said.

She added that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a better future for young Nigerians by diversifying opportunities in sports and the creative industry.

On his part, the NSC Chairman, Mallam Dikko, said the initiative is in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda on sports economy.

“We need to invest and revamp our sports facilities to run around 4,000 activities round the clock. This project will showcase our history, sports, and culture. We will turn the stadium into a sports city, leveraging existing structures to build value for creatives,” he said, assuring of the Commission’s full commitment to the success of the project.

The collaboration will be implemented as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with FMACTCE and NSC providing institutional support for government approvals and alignment. It will also foster inter-agency dialogue, integrate strategies linking sports with arts, culture, tourism and the creative economy, and encourage wider stakeholder engagement.

The project is expected to serve as a world-class hub that will stimulate economic growth, promote creativity and innovation, and showcase Nigeria’s cultural and sports heritage to the world.