The Federal Government has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Niger State Government to develop the state’s tourism and cultural assets as part of efforts to drive economic growth and diversify the nation’s economy.

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from Niger State led by the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi.

Speaking during the visit, Hon. Abdullahi, who was accompanied by the General Manager of the Niger State Tourism Corporation, Hajiya Zainab Mohammed, said the delegation was in the ministry to explore areas of collaboration aimed at harnessing the vast tourism and cultural potential of Niger State in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic transformation agenda.

He described Bida as the cultural headquarters of the Nupe-speaking people worldwide, noting that the town holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first UNESCO Creative City for crafts and folk arts.

According to the lawmaker, despite its rich cultural heritage, Niger State has not fully leveraged its assets for visibility, tourism growth and economic benefits.

“We have a very rich culture, yet we are not doing enough to showcase it. For people to truly appreciate who we are, our culture must be made visible,” Abdullahi said.

He specifically highlighted the historic Bariki (Hawan Bariki) festival in Bida, which dates back to the pre-independence era and has been preserved through generations, stressing the need to rebrand it into an international cultural festival capable of attracting tourists and investment.

“We want to give the Bariki festival a different face and make it an international event. If properly developed, it will generate economic benefits, create jobs and improve livelihoods,” he added.

Abdullahi further noted that collaboration with the Federal Ministry would help galvanise support from the Niger State Government and ensure the sustainability of the initiative beyond political tenures.

Responding, Minister Musawa welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering with state governments to unlock tourism and cultural opportunities across the country.

She said Niger State stands out due to its rich cultural heritage, proximity to the Federal Capital Territory and notable tourism attractions such as Zuma Rock.

“Niger State has visible tourism potential, and we are interested in working closely with the state to enhance and amplify these assets,” the minister said.

Musawa disclosed that the ministry is implementing the Renewed Hope Cultural Renaissance Project, an initiative under President Tinubu’s vision, aimed at fostering collaboration between the Federal and State Governments to promote culture and tourism.

She revealed that discussions were ongoing to prioritise Niger State under the project, including plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership.

“I believe Niger State is one of the states we can prioritise. Under the MoU, we can begin working on specific projects such as Hawan Sallah, Hawan Bariki and other tourism initiatives,” she said.

The minister added that arrangements were being made to engage the Niger State Government for a possible visit and signing of the MoU in the coming weeks to kick-start the collaboration.