Culture Minister inaugurates 4,000 seat MEFA Arena to boost creative industry

In a bid to move forward the Nigerian creative and cultural industries, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, under the leadership of Honourable Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq, in collaboration with the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and MEFA, officially broke ground on Nigeria’s first purpose-built creative and entertainment arena located at Arts Village, Abuja.
The event marked the formal signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry, NCAC, and MEFA, a visionary infrastructure project led by Yinka Obebe, Founder of MEFA, and Bola Yinka Obebe, Co-founder, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s entertainment and tourism economy with world-class live performance venues and creative spaces.
In her deeply inspiring address, Honourable Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq expressed immense pride in the Ministry’s partnership with MEFA and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for the Abuja Creative City, championing it as a transformative project for Nigeria’s youth, cultural visibility, and global creative competitiveness.
She stated, “This day brings me joy. It will stand as one of the defining moments of my leadership in this Ministry. We have laid strong policy foundations, but infrastructure is the heartbeat of the creative economy. Today, there is no world-class arena in Nigeria where Nigerians can watch their own stars perform. We must travel to Ghana or Rwanda to watch Nigerian Afrobeat giants, that is unacceptable. What MEFA is building is not just an arena, it is a sanctuary for creativity, a symbol of unity, and a new platform for tourism and economic expansion.”
The Honourable Minister commended MEFA for its bold and visionary approach, declaring it “a model for a New Nigeria, one that places culture and creativity at the heart of its economy.”
She passionately listed the legendary and rising artists MEFA’s arena will celebrate and host in the future, stating,
“Imagine a venue where the iconic Davido, the electrifying Burna Boy, the soulful Rema, my brother Kizz Daniel, the legendary D’banj, the lyrical MI Abaga, the sensational Flavour, the irreplaceable King Sunny Ade, the vibrant Odumodublvck, and even Shatta Wale can all perform proudly on Nigerian soil, on a stage built for them, by Nigerians. This is about restoring dignity, creating jobs, and rewriting our global narrative.”
She also affirmed that this development directly supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in areas of youth empowerment, cultural inclusion, private sector partnership, and showcasing Nigeria’s soft power to the world.
Among the distinguished guests present were
Mr Fegho Umunubo, Special Assistant to the President (Office of the Vice President) on Digital and Creative Economy
Ms Peju Adebajo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Investment and Privatisation
Mr Toyin Subair, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters
Nzako Florence, Representative of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Eva Barta, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Spain
Directors from the National Council for Arts and Culture
Representatives from the creative private sector, foreign embassies, and members of civil society.
Speaking passionately at the ceremony, Chief Obi Asika, Director-General of NCAC, emphasized that infrastructure is the missing link in Nigeria’s creative sector.
“This groundbreaking is a celebration of the future, a milestone that reminds us what is possible when visionary Nigerians like Yinka and Bola Obebe come forward with bold ideas. As government, we are committed to supporting people who are building our economy, telling our stories, and creating platforms for the next generation.”
He added, “MEFA is more than a building. It is a declaration that Nigeria is ready to lead Africa and compete globally through creative excellence. We can no longer afford to send our talents abroad for recognition when they can shine here at home.”
Yinka Obebe, MEFA’s founder, emotionally shared his personal journey, “MEFA was born out of necessity, out of frustration that our creatives lacked spaces worthy of their genius. This arena is a tribute to the incredible artists, dancers, producers, and fans who deserve world-class venues in their own country. We are not just building a structure, we are building hope, pride, and prosperity.”

The MEFA Abuja arena will feature
A 4,000 to 5,000 capacity indoor arena
Fully adaptable stage
State-of-the-art sound and lighting systems
Green rooms and artist lounges
VIP hospitality spaces and audience tiers
Cutting-edge digital integration
Eco-friendly infrastructure
A full calendar of concerts, arts exhibitions, comedy shows, film screenings, and cultural festivals
The Abuja hub is the first in a planned series of six interconnected venues across Nigeria, with the long-term goal of expanding to all 36 states and the FCT. The project is projected to create over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs annually by engaging artists, technicians, vendors, hospitality teams, and event professionals.
As the Honourable Minister noted,“We need an arena that can bring the world to Nigeria, and allow Nigerians to experience the world right here. This space will allow us to welcome global acts like Coldplay, but also elevate our own legends to international standards.”
The launch of MEFA Abuja is more than a symbolic milestone. It is the physical embodiment of a nation rising to invest in its own voice, its talent, and its future. It is a promise kept by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and a blueprint for what Nigeria can achieve through unity, innovation, and ambition.
Nigeria’s creative future has a new home, and its doors are opening right here in Abuja.