The Edo State Government has said it is targeting increased job creation and revenue generation through the deliberate development of the state’s creative economy, tourism and hospitality sectors.
The Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Mr. Chris Okaeben, disclosed this on Friday during a stakeholders’ engagement with players in the hospitality and creative industries in Benin City. The engagement was themed “Heritage to Hospitality: Driving Edo Economic Growth.”
Okaeben stated that the government is committed to creating an enabling environment where talents can thrive, businesses can grow, and creative professionals can earn sustainable incomes.
He listed hoteliers, hospitality operators, comedians, masters of ceremonies, hype men, stylists, makeup artists, content creators and disc jockeys among those who can contribute significantly to the state’s creative economy.
The commissioner revealed that the government has commenced the grading and classification of hotels in the state to improve standards, attract visitors and strengthen the hospitality sector. He also announced that the Edo Carnival festival has been revived for December to showcase the state’s unity, creativity, culture and heritage.
Okaeben described the stakeholders’ engagement as an opportunity for government to hear directly from industry players, understand their challenges and jointly develop practical solutions that will reposition Edo as a major tourism and creative destination.
“Our task in this ministry is to create the enabling environment where your talents can thrive, your businesses can grow and your creativity can pay you well. This engagement is not a formality; it is to listen to you, understand your challenges and jointly fashion a roadmap that will put Edo on the global map as a major destination,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to support the state government’s programmes and work collectively to promote Edo’s cultural heritage, particularly ahead of activities marking the 10th anniversary of the reign of the Oba of Benin.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Amena Academy, Mr. Edosa Eghobamien, called for a structured framework to transform Edo’s heritage, culture and creativity into sustainable economic opportunities.
He noted that the creative industry has existed in Edo for centuries but has lacked the modern structures needed for effective training, certification, organisation and access to markets.
Eghobamien argued that a well-structured creative economy would generate income for practitioners, create jobs and increase government revenue through tourism, hospitality, events and related activities.
He advocated the establishment of a creative academy that would bring together experienced practitioners, academics and industry experts to develop training and certification programmes for different creative professions.
He also called for the creation of creative hubs and an international-standard studio in Benin City to provide infrastructure and opportunities for local talents to develop and market their work globally.
“We need feasibility and structure. When structure comes, people will invest in it. The ministry will have to start certifying practitioners through a creative academy, while we create hubs and partnerships. We cannot continue to export talent; we must start exporting services while giving our talent a platform to grow,” he said.
Eghobamien further urged increased promotion of Edo’s tourist destinations, noting that content creators and media professionals could play a major role in attracting visitors.
He proposed an annual Edo Heritage and Content Creator Festival, as well as competitions and programmes to promote local talents, including hype men and other emerging creative professionals. He stressed that the creative economy should make greater use of social media and digital platforms to reach global audiences and attract investment.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Edo State Tourism Agency, Mrs. Vivian Elabor, said the government was using the engagement to identify gaps in the sector and develop practical solutions. She emphasised that the meeting was designed to foster stronger engagement between the government and stakeholders.
Elabor noted that undermining the creative sector means undermining a significant source of revenue. She said that if the ministry, agency and creatives work together, the sector could generate substantial income, reduce crime, illegal migration and kidnapping by providing employment for young people.
She urged stakeholders to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on practical solutions that can be implemented before the next stakeholders’ meeting. Elabor called for greater private-sector participation and stressed that Edo must take a leading role by creating structures that enable young people and practitioners to turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods.
The event was attended by other top government officials, including Mr. Earnest Ohunyon, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Edo State Government; Mrs. Florence Edokpolo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Investment; and the state Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okobuwa.