The Federal Government on Monday resumed talks with the Qatari Government in an effort to enhance cultural exchange, arts, and tourism relations between the two countries.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, who held a meeting with Dr Ali Ghamen Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nigeria, who disclosed this in Abuja, highlighted Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and potential partnerships with Qatar to promote mutual understanding and growth.

She emphasised Nigeria’s diverse cultural history, showcasing its music, movie industry, and arts, and expressed interest in collaborating with Qatar to preserve and display Nigerian artefacts.

“Our relationship with the Gulf is important, but not complete without Qatar. We have shared alignments with the Fulani, Hausas, and Kanuris in Qatar.

“We generate content through music, the movie industry, and the arts. We have been very active in recovering most of our artefacts, like the Benin bronzes, and we want to work with Qatar to preserve and display our artefacts.

“We also look forward to having a memorandum of understanding on how our culture, music and active tourism partnerships can benefit both countries”, Musawa added.

Speaking earlier, Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Ali Ghamen Al-Hajri, highlighted Qatar’s commitment to promoting art and cultural projects, emphasising its role in diplomacy and bridging nations.

The Ambassador noted that both countries have significantly strengthened their economic ties in recent years through diplomatic engagement to advance bilateral cooperation across several sectors, including aviation, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, and agriculture.

“Qatar is committed to collaborating with Nigeria to promote culture, increase tourism, and create mutually beneficial partnerships. The potential of Nigeria’s creative industry and its global influence is widespread.

“It will be mutually beneficial to officially document this conversation in an MOU, to boost Nigeria’s cultural richness, international collaborations, and the potential for growth in the creative industry and tourism sector including cultural events, art exhibitions, and exchange programs,” Dr. Al-Hajri said.

The meeting reflects a broader trend of cultural diplomacy, where Nigeria and Qatar leverage art and culture to foster international relations and cooperation.

Both countries aim to boost cultural exchange, tourism, and economic growth through potential collaborations, including cultural events, art exhibitions, and exchange programs.

The possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise the partnership was discussed, with both parties expressing enthusiasm for the potential benefits of the collaboration.

In attendance were the Executive Director of the Katsina State History and Culture Bureau, Dr Kabir Ali Masanawa, Chioma Ude, Founder of the Africa International Film Festival (AfRIFF), Moriam Ajaga, Special Adviser to the President on Culture, and Abiola Abdulkareem, Special Adviser to the Minister on Sub-national Development.

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