What if Plateau State's biggest export wasn't tin or potatoes, but pure creativity? From the drums of the Afizere to the cameras of the National Film Institute in Jos, Governor Caleb Mutfwang's government says the time has come to turn culture into cash.

The Plateau State Government has just unveiled a full-blown blueprint for the Orange Economy — that's the fancy term for making money from culture, creativity, tourism and ideas.

The roadmap was presented at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, during the ongoing Senior Executive Course 48, 2026. And no, this wasn't just another PowerPoint presentation in a cold conference hall.

According to cbinews.tv, the plan is clear: make Plateau Nigeria's go-to destination for culture, tourism and creative enterprise.

Representing Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang this week was the Commissioner for Information and Communication and Supervising Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, Rt. Hon. Joyce Ramnap.

She told participants that the administration's "Time Is Now" agenda sees the creative sector not as a side hustle, but as a serious engine for growth and youth empowerment.

Presenting the research behind it was Group Captain Chinedu Mbam, Lead Presenter for NIPSS Study Group 4. Their theme? "The Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Nigeria."

Also in the room were big institutional players — representatives of the Nigerian Film Corporation and National Film Institute, the Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, the Rector of Plateau State Polytechnic, and the Special Adviser on Arts, Culture and Creative Economy. The DG of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, represented by Acting Director of Studies Nima Salman Mann, was also present.

What is Actually in the Plan?

Ramnap laid it out quite frankly, as captured by cbinews.tv:

1. Money where the mouth is: A N4 billion MSME matching fund has been set up with the Bank of Industry to give entrepreneurs and creatives access to real capital, not just talk.

2. Opening the door for investors: Executive Order No. 10 of 2024 now provides a proper legal framework for public-private partnerships. In other words, government is saying, "come and build with us."

3. Bringing old giants back to life: Remember Hill Station Hotel? Plateau Hotel? Jos Wildlife Park? For years they have been shadows of themselves. The government says it is now working to revive them as part of a bigger tourism rebrand.

4. A whole month for tourism: December is now officially designated as Plateau's tourism month — a deliberate move to pull in local and international visitors when the Jos weather is at its most magical.

Let's be honest, this isn't just about hotels and policy documents.

Plateau is home to more than 50 ethnic groups. That's 50+ languages, dances, cuisines, festivals like Nzem Berom, Puusdung, and the famous Jos Carnival that once shut down the city centre. For years, young people in Jos have been shooting films, making music, designing fashion and creating content with zero support, often leaving for Lagos to be seen.

As one young filmmaker told cbinews.tv on the sidelines, "Jos has always had the talent. We are Nigeria's original creative hub. What we lacked was structure."

That's the story here. If this blueprint works, a young sound engineer in Rayfield doesn't have to japa to Lagos or London. She can build a career right in Jos.

Why It Matters + A Bit of History:

Plateau knows boom and bust. In the 1970s and 80s, Jos was the jewel of Nigeria — temperate weather, thriving tin mining, Hill Station Hotel hosting diplomats, and the wildlife park as a family favourite. Then came years of neglect, security challenges, and infrastructure decay that turned "Home of Peace and Tourism" into a slogan that felt distant.

Meanwhile, globally, the numbers are shouting. According to UNCTAD, the global creative economy was valued at over $2.2 trillion as of 2023 and contributes about 3.1% to global GDP. In Nigeria, the creative industry, led by Nollywood, Afrobeats and fashion, already contributes nearly $1.5bn in exports annually and employs over 4.2 million people, according to the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy. Yet most of that value is concentrated in Lagos.

Plateau is uniquely placed to change that. Where else in Nigeria do you have the Nigerian Film Corporation AND the National Film Institute sitting in the same city? Jos gave birth to Chocolate City — one of Africa's biggest record labels, which as cbinews.tv previously reported, is now partnering with the state to launch a creative incubator. The foundation is already there.

Wait, What Exactly is the Orange Economy?

Think of it like this. The Green Economy is about the environment. The Orange Economy is about ideas, culture and creativity turned into jobs and wealth.

It includes:

* Film, music, fashion, art and crafts

* Festivals, heritage sites and cultural tourism

* Photography, content creation, gaming and animation

* Gastronomy and indigenous cuisine

UNESCO calls it "one of the fastest-growing sectors of the world economy" because it doesn't need you to dig oil. It needs talent, which Nigeria has in abundance.

What did the Experts say?

Study Group 4, led by Group Captain Mbam, was honest. Yes, Plateau has huge potential, but it must fix three things fast: funding gaps, security concerns and weak legal frameworks.

Their recommendation: fast-track the Tourism and Creative Sector Master Plan and pass the Creative Industry Development Agency Bill 2026 to give the sector proper institutional teeth.

Prof. Omotayo commended Plateau's cooperation and said if the cultural resources are properly harnessed with strategic policy, they could be transformational.

Next Steps — What Happens now?

This is not a done deal. Here's what to watch out for:

1. Policy to law: Will the Creative Industry Development Agency Bill 2026 actually get passed by the Plateau State House of Assembly?

2. Implementation: Ramnap assured that all recommendations will be presented to Governor Mutfwang for consideration. The real test is budgetary release and revival of those moribund assets.

3. Partnerships: The state says it's open for business. Will investors, especially Plateau sons and daughters in the diaspora, bite?

4. December test: Can Plateau pull off its first official tourism month this December 2026? That will be the first major public showcase.

As cbinews.tv understands it, the ball is now in the governor's court. The blueprint is on the table. The talent is on the ground. Now Plateau has to prove that creativity can actually pay the bills.

Follow cbinews.tv for more updates on Plateau's Orange Economy drive.

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