Nigeria and the European Union have entered into a €20 million agreement to enhance collaborations in the cultural and creative sectors. This partnership aims to boost Nigeria’s digital creative industries, support local film festivals, and foster museum partnerships.

The announcement was made on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during a courtesy visit by the European Union delegation to the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, and welcomed by the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

“Culture is central to civilization and growth. We must harness our rich cultural heritage to drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote national unity,” said Barrister Musawa during the meeting. She further emphasized the government’s intention to use arts and culture as tools for national development and social harmony.

A key highlight of the meeting was the plan to produce a ‘Unity Song’ featuring major Nigerian artists. This project is designed to promote national unity and address security issues through the power of music, reflecting the creative economy’s potential for social change.

The €20 million initiative will also prioritize strategic international cultural exchanges and support local infrastructure for creative ventures. According to both parties, the funding is expected to make a meaningful impact on Nigeria’s cultural landscape by promoting job creation and fostering innovation in digital content creation and traditional arts.

Barrister Musawa also revealed plans for an upcoming Creative Economy Summit. The summit will bring together industry stakeholders to drive strategic collaboration and investment, while preventing duplication of efforts in the creative sector. It is expected to support innovation, digital transformation, and economic growth in Nigeria’s creative economy.

The Minister stressed the importance of data-driven policy making, noting that “data mapping will be crucial in informing cultural and creative economy interventions.” She explained that targeted, evidence-based strategies are necessary to ensure effective results and sustainable growth in the sector.

Both the Nigerian government and the EU expressed strong commitment to deepening ties through capacity building, digital skills development, and cultural preservation.

The partnership will align with international best practices but remain grounded in Nigeria’s unique cultural identity and economic realities.

In other news, NITDA DG has unveiled Digital Literacy Vision at Lagos CEO Forum.

Ahead of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) recruitment scheduled for July 14, 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued a strong warning to job seekers. Recall that the Federal Government earlier announced recruitment into the four paramilitary agencies under the CDCFIB.

The NIS has cautioned the public against using fake websites, especially niscareer.org.ng, which is not affiliated with any official recruitment process.

In a public notice, the agency stated, “The Nigeria Immigration Service wishes to caution the public against patronizing fake recruitment websites particularly (niscareer.org.ng).”

The CDCFIB had earlier postponed the recruitment but later confirmed that the exercise will officially begin on July 14 through its verified portal: recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng. The recruitment will run for three weeks.

Interested job applicants are also advised to expect slow access to the official portal due to high web traffic on that day. Thousands of Nigerians are expected to visit the site to submit their applications, which will lead to possible congestion.

Eligible applicants are urged to remain alert and avoid fraudulent links while visiting only the official government job portal.

In other news, NDE will Launch 2nd Phase of Renewed Hope Employment Initiative for 21,782 beneficiaries.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on youths across the state to focus on acquiring practical skills and professional development that are essential in today’s job market and critical for solving modern challenges.

Governor Eno made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Pastors’ Conference held at Insight Bible Church, Uyo. The event, themed “Modelling Christ,” attracted members of the State Executive Council, pastors, and church leaders from within and outside the state.

The Governor described the conference as not just a spiritual gathering but a platform for human capital development, highlighting that there is an urgent need for capable individuals across various sectors.

“The truth is, this is a human capital development programme; and looking at it realistically, the world is in short supply of human capacity,” Eno said. “Whether in ministry, politics, management, and so on, we are really in short supply of capable men.”

Governor Eno stressed that there are existing vacancies in Akwa Ibom State that require specific expertise, and encouraged young people to rise to the challenge. “In our State currently, there are some vacancies to be filled in some specific areas, and our people need to rise up to these needs. We are seriously looking for Special Assistants on Climate Change, Carbon Credit, Blue Economy, and the likes, not some kind of general purpose personnel,” he noted.

The Governor emphasized that the dearth of qualified professionals in critical areas like climate change, carbon management, and the blue economy is affecting government operations and progress. He encouraged the youths to seek knowledge that aligns with the state’s developmental needs.

“There is a dearth of serious capacity in critical areas in the State, and our youths and our people should rise to the occasion by developing themselves in critical skills and professional areas of our present societal needs,” Eno said.

Governor Eno also commended the efforts of Pastor Sylvanus Ukafia, Coordinator of the International Pastors’ Conference, for his consistency in building leadership capacity through the conference since its inception in 1999.

“We thank God for the grace that He has given to Dr. Ukafia and the Insight Bible Church to carry on this Pastors’ Conference since 1999,” Eno stated. “I don’t know of any other church leadership in Akwa Ibom State that has been consistent with pastors’ training and leadership conference like this. So I thank you.”

Speaking further, the Governor urged pastors to prioritize continuous learning and skill development in order to lead their congregations effectively. He noted the essential role of pastors as spiritual and social leaders.

“As Pastors, we need pastoral training because if a pastor is well trained and sound, he would be able to stand the test of time to impact the necessary knowledge and experience on the people,” he said.

“No matter how much a leader, like us, knows, when he comes to a church, he listens to his Pastor. He expects the Pastor to help him in sound counselling, motivation, and superior ideas to function well in his leadership position.”

In his remarks, Pastor Ukafia praised Governor Eno for his unwavering support and commitment to the success of the conference. He described the Governor’s leadership style as exemplary and inspiring.

The five-day conference is designed to provide spiritual renewal, leadership coaching, and strategic insight for church leaders, aligning with national conversations on capacity building, professional growth, and skills acquisition.

In other news, AKSG has launched Tree Crops Development Plan to boost agriculture.