In a significant stride toward advancing Nigeria’s creative infrastructure, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in partnership with MEFA, has commenced the development of a state-of-the-art 4,500-capacity arena at the Arts and Crafts Village in Abuja.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on June 10, 2025, marks the start of an ambitious project to build six world-class performance venues across key Nigerian cities. The Abuja facility is the flagship in a rollout that will extend to Enugu, Kaduna, Jos, and Port Harcourt, aiming to establish a sustainable touring ecosystem for live entertainment, sports, and cultural events.
Fully backed by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the initiative is envisioned as a game-changer for Nigeria’s cultural and economic landscape. Minister Hon. Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, who delivered the keynote address, described the launch as “a defining moment” in her tenure. “It pains me that we have to travel to Ghana or Rwanda to enjoy world-class performances. This venue will change that,” she said.
NCAC Director General Obi Asika praised the collaboration, noting that while the Arts Village has existed since 1988, this is the first time it will host a high-value cultural infrastructure project. “When completed, this will be one of the best performance venues anywhere—accessible, inclusive, and impactful,” he said, highlighting the arena’s potential to create thousands of jobs and serve as a hub for various creative expressions including music, dance, theatre, esports, fashion, and visual art.
MEFA Co-Founder Yinka Obebe presented the project’s core features, including a fully movable performance stage, world-class lighting and sound systems, VIP zones, rooftop recreation spaces, and a year-round programming calendar. The venue is expected to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs annually and host more than 250 events per year.
“MEFA will be a catalyst for the creative economy—activating promoters, artists, vendors, and service providers with every event,” said Obebe, describing the facility as one of the most impactful performance spaces in West Africa.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between NCAC, the Ministry, and MEFA to cement the partnership. In her closing remarks, Mrs. Bola Yinka-Obebe, also a Co-Founder of MEFA, expressed gratitude to stakeholders and challenged all involved to “deliver the promise of world-class experiences and production.”
Notable guests at the event included Fegho Umunubo, Special Assistant to the Vice President on Digital and Creative Economy; Ody Anumba of NTDA; cultural representatives from Spain and Congo; and leading voices from Nigeria’s arts, fashion, and entertainment sectors.
The MEFA project is a privately funded, visionary initiative designed to stimulate Nigeria’s creative economy, provide world-class performance spaces, and empower communities through cultural engagement and job creation.