The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and Chocolate City Group have signed a three-year pact to reposition Nigeria’s creative industry.
The Memorandum of Understanding was formalised on Thursday in Abuja between the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy and Chocolate City, Nigeria’s foremost entertainment company.
The agreement focuses on building small-scale live event arenas across the country, nurturing local talent, improving content distribution globally, and strengthening intellectual property protection for creatives.
It also aligns with the federal government’s broader strategy to harness the economic potential of the creative industry, especially in music, content creation, and live performance infrastructure.
The initiative will be steered by a Joint Working Committee made up of representatives from both the ministry and Chocolate City. The committee will identify and execute specific projects under the deal.
Expected outcomes include empowering emerging talents, promoting sustainable entrepreneurship, expanding the global reach of Nigerian content, and constructing vital infrastructure for the sector.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the collaboration would help tap into one of Nigeria’s greatest untapped resources.
“Nigeria’s creative industries hold massive potential for GDP growth, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. This partnership reflects our commitment to using public-private collaboration to build a creative ecosystem that empowers talent and projects our cultural richness globally,” Musawa said.
Signing on behalf of the federal government, she said the agreement with Chocolate City would further Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s innovation and entertainment capital.
Audu Maikori, Co-Founder and Chairman of Chocolate City Group, described the MoU as a timely intervention that will accelerate talent development across Nigeria.
He said Nigeria’s music sector alone generates about $2 billion annually and remains a strong contributor to the $26 billion global music economy.
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“Afrobeats has become our strongest cultural export, lifting Nigerian artists to global platforms and enhancing our national reputation,” Maikori said.
He added that the partnership will offer essential institutional support to address persistent challenges such as poor distribution systems, inadequate infrastructure, and weak rights protection mechanisms.
Paul Okeugo, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Chocolate City, noted that the agreement offers a clear policy direction for creative sector reforms.
He emphasised the multiplier effects of the partnership in creating employment opportunities and empowering Nigerian youth.
“Building creative venues nationwide translates into jobs not only for performers but for a host of professionals – from engineers to hospitality workers.
This effort ensures creators retain ownership of their intellectual property and gain direct benefits from their output,” he said.
Chocolate City Group, founded in 2005, has evolved from a record label into a full-fledged entertainment powerhouse involved in music production, artist management, publishing, and creative consultancy.
The company has developed some of Africa’s most recognised artists, including Femi Kuti, Blaqbonez, Young Jonn, and Ice Prince.
The landmark deal comes as Chocolate City marks its 20th anniversary and coincides with the federal government’s Nigeria Destination 2030 initiative.
Nigeria Destination 2030 is a strategic national plan aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global destination for tourism, investment, and cultural exchange by the end of the decade.
It incorporates policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, and strategic partnerships to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, scenic attractions, and creative potential to the global community.
NAN
