FG Partners Chocolate City to Boost Creative Industry With New Infrastructure Plan
The Federal Government has entered into a major partnership with Chocolate City Group to develop key infrastructure for Nigeria’s creative industry. This new collaboration aims to support music, content creation, and live event venues across the country.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy and Chocolate City Group. The three-year agreement will focus on building small live event venues, discovering and training new talents, and creating global channels to promote Nigerian creative content.
The initiative will also support stronger systems for protecting intellectual property, while encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors. A joint working committee will be formed with members from both sides to choose specific projects and see them through.
Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who signed on behalf of the government, said this move is part of a larger plan to grow the creative sector and boost Nigeria’s economy. She added that Nigeria’s talent has the potential to greatly increase GDP and create more jobs if supported with the right infrastructure.
According to Musawa, working with Chocolate City—a top entertainment company in Nigeria—will help position the country as Africa’s leading hub for creativity and innovation. She also said the deal proves that the government is serious about helping creatives thrive both at home and abroad.
Chocolate City Co-Founder and Chairman, Audu Maikori, described the agreement as a step in the right direction. He said the Nigerian music industry alone is worth around $2 billion per year and could grow even more with proper support. Maikori noted that Afrobeats has become Nigeria’s biggest cultural export and now needs strong infrastructure to keep growing globally.
His fellow Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, Paul Okeugo, added that the partnership will support government reforms for the creative industry and help create more jobs. He said that by building event venues and creative hubs around the country, the partnership will help thousands of people, including technicians, event planners, and hospitality workers.
Chocolate City, which turns 20 this year, is known for promoting popular artists like Ice Prince, Blaqbonez, and Femi Kuti. This new agreement also aligns with the Federal Government’s “Nigeria Destination 2030” campaign, which aims to make Nigeria a top global destination for culture, tourism, and investment by the year 2030.
