By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni, has called for a secure, stable and enabling environment to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s Orange Economy, describing security as a fundamental requirement for entrepreneurship, innovation, investment and sustainable national development.
This was contained in a statement signed by Engineer Ifeanyi Jude Ngama, mni, National Publicity Secretary, AANI.
Ambassador Okafor made the call on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the 5th Distinguished AANI Alumni Lecture held at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State.
The lecture, themed _“The Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Security as a Primary Enabler,”_ drew policymakers, academics, security experts, development practitioners, AANI members and participants of Senior Executive Course 48.
In his welcome address, the AANI President, who also chairs the Alumni Lecture Series, said NIPSS remains a unique national platform where strategic thinking is cultivated and commitment to national service is strengthened.
He noted that Nigeria’s creative industries — music, film, fashion, literature, publishing, visual arts and digital content — have enormous potential to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, promote entrepreneurship and project Nigeria’s culture globally.
However, he stressed that the sector’s potential can only be realised through sustained investment in skills, infrastructure, finance, digital connectivity, innovation and intellectual property protection, all of which require a secure and predictable environment.
“Policymakers must embrace a broader conception of national security that goes beyond territorial defence to include economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, education, human capital development and the protection of creative enterprise,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, described the lecture series as an enduring intellectual tradition for promoting evidence-based policy discourse.
“Ideas require institutions, innovation requires investment, entrepreneurship requires confidence, and confidence flourishes only where security prevails,” he said, describing security as “the invisible infrastructure upon which economic transformation depends.”
Delivering the keynote, Rear Admiral Emmanuel O. Jaiyeola, Rtd., mni, described the Orange Economy as one of Nigeria’s most promising pathways to inclusive development. He noted that the sector is driven by creativity, culture, innovation and intellectual property, and offers opportunities for employment, diversification and youth empowerment.
He identified Nigeria’s youthful population, cultural diversity and expanding digital ecosystem as strategic advantages, but listed inadequate infrastructure, limited finance, weak IP protection and insecurity as major constraints.
Describing insecurity as “the most pervasive constraint,” he called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector and stakeholders, and increased investment in digital infrastructure and skills.
In his contribution, the Director-General of MINILS, Comrade Issa Aremu, mni, highlighted the potential of the Orange Economy to create jobs for Nigeria’s youth. He drew attention to security vulnerabilities in the informal sector where most creative activities take place, and advocated formalisation to improve access to finance, regulation and social protection.
He also stressed the need for stronger coordination with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and for greater protection of digital assets.
Professor John Wade, mni, further emphasised the need for an integrated approach linking entrepreneurship, creativity and security, and urged a shift from policy formulation to effective implementation.
The lecture featured robust contributions from participants on leveraging the Orange Economy for job creation, innovation, youth empowerment, formalisation of creative enterprises and strengthening national security.
The event reaffirmed the commitment of NIPSS and AANI to advancing evidence-based policy dialogue and generating practical recommendations for harnessing Nigeria’s creative potential for inclusive and sustainable development.
