The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy has entered into a partnership with Lens for Good, a non-profit storytelling organisation, to strengthen the creative industry through digital storytelling, mentorship, and structured capacity-building.
The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, in Abuja.
The agreement aims to support Nigerian creatives with digital tools, training, and access to government-backed opportunities that promote authentic storytelling and national image building.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the collaboration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which encourages sustainable, private-sector-driven initiatives.
She said, “For far too long, our stories have been written and told for us. We must take ownership of our storytelling. For it to be authentic, it has to come from us.”
Musawa described storytelling as a powerful form of soft power that can reshape how the world perceives Nigeria. She assured that her ministry would continue to support projects that empower local talent and expand the global visibility of Nigerian creativity.
The new initiative will integrate Lens for Good’s web application with the Ministry’s Creative Leap Acceleration Programme, providing a single platform for creators to access mentorship, training, and development programmes.
Chairman of Lens for Good, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, described the MoU as a major win for the creative community, stressing that storytelling should be recognised as both an economic and cultural investment.
He said, “Telling our stories isn’t charity, it’s business. It shapes how the world sees us and how investors engage with us. When people see creativity, innovation, and resilience, Nigeria becomes investable.”
Aboyeji also highlighted the need for creatives to be fairly compensated, saying, “Creatives are not paid enough for what they do for Nigeria. Without their stories, there would be no industry.”
Executive Director of Lens for Good, Julia Azubuike, explained that the partnership will begin with a series of creative empowerment workshops across the country, starting with Imo State.
She said the programme aims to build an inclusive ecosystem that connects government, private sector, and youth talent through storytelling, film, photography, and digital media.
The collaboration marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s creative development drive, blending innovation and cultural expression to project the nation’s identity to global audiences.
Since its inception, Lens for Good said it has trained and inspired thousands of young Nigerians through storytelling, digital media, and creative expression, helping shape new narratives about Nigeria’s resilience and creativity.
