Project Policy Proposal For National Policy On Culture And Future Development Of Creative Media & Media Art In Nigeria.

Nigeria is a country with over 200 million population, over 50 languages and over 250 dialects and ethnic groups. Its present National Policy On Culture was enacted into law in 1988; and since then it has not been reviewed in view of the socio-economic and digital revolution in the art, culture, media-art and creative industry in Nigeria. There was neither internet nor mobile phones in Nigeria with its current communications superhighway when the policy came into effect. The future development of media-art and the explosion in the creative industry in Nigeria was not envisaged in the policy where Nigeria's creative industry has become a multi-billion dollar money-spinner due to the boost in media-art, film and music industry. Nigeria's Afrobeat music is no1 in the world and Nigeria's Nollywood films is the 2nd largest in the worldand third most profitable industry globally where it raked in $5.1 billion based on a 2013 valuation. (Sophie Collins 2022).The policy proposal is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the purpose, objectives and scope of the policy. The second part is on implementation while the last part highlight administration, logistics and financing of the policy. The purpose of the Policy Proposal is to have a new National Policy that is in tune with contemporary trends and international best practices taking cognizance of new or digital-media influence on arts and culture which media-art represents in terms of the use of film, internet, mobile technologies, immersive and virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), film animation etc. to leverage art and culture. The project policy objectives are among others: to harness the benefits of new or digital media, science and technology to strengthen tourism, arts and culture in Nigeria; and consider future developmentin Media Arts partnering with relevant stakeholders to develop, promote and sustain creative ecosystem in the country. Policy proposal implementation is to be driven by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture via culture and media-arts implementation task team. This is in addition to sensitization and advocacy of stakeholders, programme strengthening through seminars and workshops and periodic performance assessments to monitor, evaluate and review the policy in line with UNESCO guidelines of 8-year intervals. To strengthen the policy,  wider consultation and support of the government and policymakers are needed. Establishment of a policy incubation centre, provision of budgetary allocation for effective policy operation and institutional strengthening through the provision of adequate logistics, manpower and adequate financial resources, and Joint M&E programme with key NGOs and CSOs advocated.