Information Minister Backs NIPSS Plan To Harness Nigeria’s Orange Economy

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has pledged the Federal Government’s support for efforts by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to harness Nigeria’s Orange Economy for job creation, entrepreneurship and economic diversification.

Idris made the commitment on Tuesday in Abuja when the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, led a delegation from the institute on a courtesy visit to discuss the research of Senior Executive Course 48 and plans for a National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Tuesday.

The minister commended NIPSS for choosing the creative economy as the focus of its research, describing the sector as an opportunity to drive economic diversification, youth employment and sustainable prosperity.

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“I want to commend NIPSS for this initiative of examining the Orange Economy and entrepreneurship for sustainable development,” Idris said

He assured the delegation that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and its agencies would support the research and proposed summit.

Idris stressed the importance of effective communication in ensuring that Nigerians and the international community are aware of the opportunities available in the creative economy.

“This Ministry is essentially about taking information to the public and taking it back from the public. It is a two-way thing,” he said.

The minister also highlighted the role of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in gathering feedback from Nigerians at the grassroots through its nationwide presence.

According to him, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to listening to citizens and adjusting policies and programmes where necessary in the national interest.

“The first question the President asks whenever I sit with him is: ‘What are Nigerians saying?’” Idris said.

He further assured NIPSS that the ministry would designate an official to work with the institute to strengthen coordination and collaboration ahead of the planned summit.

Earlier, Omotayo said NIPSS was seeking the ministry’s partnership for its research and the proposed summit, which he said would explore the capacity of the Orange Economy to contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation and the ambition of building a trillion-dollar economy.

The NIPSS Director-General said participants in Senior Executive Course 48 had conducted research visits across Nigeria and other countries to examine how creative industries were being developed and leveraged.

He said the proposed summit would bring together government representatives, creatives, entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders to examine opportunities across the sector.

“The Orange Economy is a very huge sector. We have identified about 48 subdivisions, and we believe the summit will bring out the potentials in every sector,” Omotayo said.

He added that the sector could play a significant role in addressing youth unemployment and creating new opportunities through Nigeria’s expanding creative and digital industries.

Idris reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with NIPSS and other strategic institutions to translate research and policy ideas into practical opportunities for Nigerians, particularly young people, while strengthening the country’s position in the global creative economy.