Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has underscored the need to position Nigeria as a gateway to the global Black community, acknowledging the UAE’s support in advancing this vision.
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The Minister stated this in Abuja during a meeting with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Salem Saeed Musabbeh Al Mahyoub Al Shamsi, where they discussed strategies to deepen tourism and cultural collaboration between both nations.
She extended her congratulations to Sheikha, the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, on her historic appointment as the organization’s first female leader, commending her for championing women’s empowerment, inclusivity, and the strength of the Global South.
She said “It is very important for us now, as a country and as a gateway country to the black global community, to empower ourselves in a way that gives us a certain level of independence. Tourism now is power. We all know the importance of Tourism globally but we need to have a more curative relationship with the United Arab Emirates. We want to empower ourselves in a way that gives us a certain level of independence.”
Musawa commended Dubai’s remarkable transformation in tourism and emphasized the potential for strategic collaboration between Nigeria and the UAE in advancing tourism and cultural development.
In his earlier remarks,Ambassador Salem Saeed Musabbeh Al Mahyoub Al Shamsi welcomed the proposals andexpressed commitment to strengthening ties.
“The UAE has become one of the top five industrial countries so let us find a common interest in culture and tourism to build a stronger relationship. I invited the Ministry to AbuDhabi to see the development in Dubai to explore specific areas of cooperation tourism and culture,” the Ambassador said.
The discussion also touched on Sheikha’s upcoming visit to Nigeria and potential cooperation in culture,tourism, and creative industries.