By Frank Meke
Last week, we witnessed the historic Air Peace inaugural flight to London from Abuja — a moment that filled me with immense pride. Amid the celebration, one man stood out: Barrister Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Keyamo has proven to be a game-changer in the aviation sector. He leads from the front, and I am certain President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pleased with his minister’s efforts to transform the industry. Though it’s not uhuru yet, Keyamo has demonstrated that nothing is impossible when leadership meets commitment.
Before his tenure, Nigerians longed to see a homegrown airline flying our flag across the global aviation space. Today, that dream is within reach — thanks to Keyamo’s dedication and relentless drive.
Another minister worthy of mention is Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. My recent visit to the Immigration Office in Ikoyi revealed a transformed environment — clean, organized, and even featuring a kiddies’ corner. It felt like stepping into a five-star facility. I walked out with my new passport without stress, touts, or shady dealings. This is the Nigeria we all desire — one where leaders believe in doing things right and professionally.
Indeed, there are ministers working quietly and effectively to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda. A visit to our airports in Lagos and Abuja shows visible improvements, reflecting the efforts of ministers who are truly agents of hope and restoration. Sadly, not all can say the same — particularly in the culture, tourism, and creative economy sector, where leadership appears to be idling away and squandering opportunities.
Over the weekend, I learned that the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, celebrated her birthday. I rejoice with her. However, her cheerleaders were unusually silent — and perhaps, rightfully so.
A friend once described Hannatu as “Nigeria’s Minister of the Memorandum of Understanding,” a biting yet accurate description of her tenure so far. After two years in office, it seems she has become more passionate about signing MOUs than achieving tangible results.
Having failed to dazzle us with meaningful cultural or tourism outcomes, Madam Minister appears to have reinvented herself as a full-time evangelist of memoranda. Like the colonial adventurers who invaded the Benin Kingdom in 1897 under the guise of trade agreements — only to plunder our cultural heritage — Hannatu’s endless MOUs have yielded no real benefits for the Nigerian tourism sector.
While other ministries are producing measurable achievements, hers remains one of the most disoriented, disorganized, and uninspired. Far from being a mere mistake, Hannatu represents a surplus of mediocrity in a space desperately in need of competence and innovation.
Compared to past ministers such as Edem Duke, Lai Mohammed, and Bromillow Jack, Hannatu fares even worse. And though Lola Ade-John’s tenure was modest, she at least displayed humility and sincerity — qualities sorely missing today.
The truth is, leadership is not about signing flashy memoranda or making empty speeches before the cameras. It’s about breaking barriers, delivering results, and collaborating sincerely with genuine industry stakeholders — not with rent seekers and noisy opportunists.
If Hannatu Musa Musawa represents the kind of “youthful leadership” meant to transform Nigeria’s creative economy, then perhaps our cultural tourism sector must brace for a long wait — maybe until a true messiah emerges.
Happy birthday, Madam Minister of Tourism and Memoranda of Understanding.
