Insecurity Threatens Nigeria’s Creative Economy, Youth Jobs — AANI President
The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Amb. Emmanuel Obi Okafor, has warned that insecurity poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s creative economy, entrepreneurship, investment and youth employment.
Okafor said urgent measures were needed to create a secure and predictable environment where businesses and creative enterprises could grow and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He spoke at the 5th Distinguished AANI Alumni Lecture held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
The lecture, themed “The Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Security as a Primary Enabler,” brought together policymakers, academics, security experts, development practitioners, AANI members and participants of the Senior Executive Course 48.
In a statement issued by AANI’s National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ifeanyi Ngama, Okafor described security as a fundamental requirement for entrepreneurship, innovation, investment and sustainable development.
He said Nigeria’s creative industries had the potential to become major drivers of economic growth, job creation and youth empowerment while strengthening the country’s cultural influence globally.
According to him, unlocking the sector’s full potential would require sustained investment in skills development, infrastructure, access to finance, digital connectivity, innovation and intellectual property protection.
He, however, stressed that such investments could only thrive in a secure and predictable operating environment.
Okafor called on policymakers to broaden the concept of national security beyond territorial defence and physical safety to include economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, education, human capital development, social inclusion and the protection of creative enterprises.
He said these elements were critical to achieving sustainable national security and long-term development.
Security is economic infrastructure — NIPSS DG
The Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, said Nigeria’s creative talent and entrepreneurial energy could only translate into sustainable economic transformation when supported by strong institutions and a stable security environment.
Omotayo described the AANI Alumni Lecture Series as one of NIPSS’s enduring intellectual traditions for promoting evidence-based policy discussions and practical solutions to Nigeria’s development challenges.
He said, “Ideas require institutions, innovation requires investment, entrepreneurship requires confidence, and confidence flourishes only where security prevails.”
The NIPSS Director-General further described security as “the invisible infrastructure upon which economic transformation depends,” stressing the need for coherent policies, effective institutions and stronger partnerships to create an enabling environment for Nigeria’s creative economy.
Orange Economy offers pathway to inclusive growth
The keynote speaker, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Jaiyeola (rtd.), described the Orange Economy as one of Nigeria’s most promising pathways to inclusive and sustainable development.
He explained that the sector, driven by creativity, culture, innovation and intellectual property, could generate jobs, diversify the economy, empower young people, preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage and promote social inclusion.
Jaiyeola identified Nigeria’s youthful population, cultural diversity, creative talent and expanding digital ecosystem as strategic advantages capable of positioning the country as a major global player in the creative economy.
He, however, identified inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance, weak intellectual property protection, skills gaps, policy fragmentation and insecurity as major obstacles to the sector’s growth.
According to him, insecurity remains “the most pervasive constraint” confronting the creative economy.
He therefore called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, educational and training institutions, creative industry stakeholders and development partners.
Jaiyeola also advocated increased investment in digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship development, skills acquisition and intellectual property protection to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries.
The speakers agreed that creating a secure, predictable and investment-friendly environment would be critical to transforming Nigeria’s creative potential into sustainable jobs, businesses and economic opportunities for its growing youth population.
