The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has initiated discussions with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated on a strategic partnership to expand access to fashion and design skills development programmes across Nigeria.

Musawa disclosed the development on Monday, 20 July, via her X handle, following a meeting with NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr and MOFI Managing Director Dr Armstrong Ume Takang.

The minister said the collaboration would leverage NELFUND's student financing platform to remove financial barriers for aspiring creatives enrolled in fashion and design training centres across the country.

"Our discussions focused on how NELFUND's student financing platform can support aspiring creatives enrolled in world class Fashion and Design Training Centres, ensuring that talent is never limited by financial barriers," she stated.

Musawa described the proposed partnership as a combination of specialised training, accessible financing, entrepreneurship support and employment pathways designed to build a stronger pipeline of creative professionals in Nigeria.

"By combining quality training, accessible financing, entrepreneurship support, and pathways to employment, we are laying the foundation for a stronger pipeline of creative talent," she said.

The minister added that equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills remains central to the Federal Government's creative economy agenda.

"Empowering young Nigerians with the skills and opportunities to succeed remains central to our vision for the creative economy, and I look forward to seeing this collaboration translate into meaningful impact for the next generation of creatives," Musawa said.