The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has visited the Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria to offer condolences following the death of the Father Amir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
According to a statement from Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the special assistant on media and publicity to the minister, Musawa visited the Qatari Embassy in Abuja to pass along the sympathies of the Nigerian government and its citizens.
Musawa praised the late Father Amir for his visionary governance from 1995 to 2013, noting that his leadership fundamentally reshaped Qatar and set the stage for its current global status.
“We are deeply saddened by this great loss. On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, and the people of Nigeria, I extend our heartfelt condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government and the people of Qatar,” Musawa said.
“Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will be remembered as an architect of modern Qatar. We pray that Allah grants his soul eternal rest and grants the Qatari nation the fortitude to bear this loss.”
Beyond the condolences, the minister used the meeting to highlight shared interests, focusing heavily on enhancing diplomatic ties, boosting tourism, and expanding creative economy exchanges.
Musawa emphasized that Nigeria wants to foster deeper partnerships to elevate cultural tourism and human connection between the two nations.
She threw her weight behind better flight connectivity between Abuja and Doha, and pushed for simplified travel guidelines for creative delegations, tourism professionals, and business leaders.
“The Creative Economy and Tourism sector thrive on cultural exchange. We welcome partnerships that make it easier for Nigerians to engage with Qatar through festivals, exhibitions, and tourism initiatives,” she stated.
Furthermore, the minister recommended a smoother Qatari visa application process specifically for cultural events, noting that easier travel routes would noticeably boost tourism and creative exchanges.
In response, the Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hail, expressed his appreciation to the minister and the Nigerian government for their solidarity. He reaffirmed his country’s intent to build closer cultural relationships with Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s rich and diverse culture is admired worldwide, and the creative energy of Nigerian youth is a global asset. Qatar is keen to partner with the Ministry to showcase Nigerian music, film, fashion and heritage through cultural exchange programs in Doha.
With stronger diplomatic ties and improved travel processes, we can bring Nigerian creativity closer to global audiences and create new opportunities for our people,” the ambassador said.
He also promised that the embassy would cooperate with the appropriate Qatari authorities to review the ministry’s ideas regarding travel ease and cultural partnerships.
The visit highlights Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to building closer diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
