Minister canvasses collaboration to scale up digitisation in Nigeria

The Minister for Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has stressed the need for an inclusive stakeholders’ collaboration to bridge the digitisation gap in the country.

Speaking during the Subnational Roundtable at Omniverse 2.0 held in Lagos, she stressed the importance of working together, noting that “every one of us has a part to play. Every one of us must bring their expertise so that we can have a formidable sector”.
She observed the creative economy and tech industry are part of the same coin.

She explained: “It takes creativity to innovate. Anything you want to do; you can’t do without digitisation. I need your help and partnership so that we can make Nigeria the greatest black nation on earth.”

Musawa disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is working tirelessly to create sustainable solutions, economic expansion and domestic tourism expansion.
At the heart of the conversation was the historic launch of the LAKKE Project, an inter-regional trade and investment initiative that will unlock an estimated $121.3 million by 2029.

This first-of-its-kind collaboration brings together five great states – Lagos, Abia, Kano, Katsina and Enugu (LAKKE) – to create a structured value chain in Nigeria’s leather industry, a sector with the potential to rival global markets.

Each state is strategically positioned to leverage its strengths and supercharge the country’s industrial landscape.

The LAKKE marriage, facilitated by Musawa, is not just a deal, it is also a movement that will position Nigeria as a global leather powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs and accelerating economic prosperity.

This deal, according to her, embodies President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, which prioritises economic diversification, industrial expansion and job creation for millions of Nigerians.

Beyond trade, the roundtable underscored the transformative role of technology in enabling investment and economic growth. Each participating state showcased its achievements in laying the digital infrastructure needed to enhance service delivery and attract global partnerships.

A major milestone was achieved as all the states agreed to harmonise information and communication technology (ICT), and trade and investment policies, breaking down bureaucratic barriers and paving the way for seamless business operations across regions.

To maintain momentum, states committed to regular peer-review sessions, strengthening collaboration and ensuring no region is left behind.The Omniverse 2025 platform played a critical role in providing a global stage for these discussions, allowing subnational leaders to connect with investors, policymakers and technology pioneers to drive industrial transformation.

The event also witnessed a resounding commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive industrial growth. Kano and Abia showcased the great potential of their leather industries, while Lagos pledged to attract investors to transform this potential into a thriving multi-million-dollar enterprise.

The Abia Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, David Kalu, stated: “Abia produces 50 million pairs of shoes per annum, and we want to source our leather from Kano.”

Kalu, who also disclosed that ipNX has officially entered into a strategic partnership with the state government, added that the partnership is expected to bridge the digital divide, providing opportunities to ultimately empower young people and businesses across the state.

Responding, the Commissioner of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Kano State, Yusuf Kofar Mata, highlighted Kano and Katsina’s 2,000-year-old tradition of leather manufacturing, emphasizing how Kano powers the Italian fashion industry with leather.