Assessing the Impact of Innovation and Creativity in Fine and Applied Arts on Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Innovation and creativity have become critical engines of global competitiveness, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in the twenty-first century. This study examined the role of innovation and creativity in Fine and Applied Arts as pathways to entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Nigeria, using Benue State as a case study. A descriptive survey design was adopted, involving 240 respondents comprising Fine and Applied Arts lecturers, students, and professional artists selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire titled Fine and Applied Arts Innovation and Entrepreneurship Questionnaire (FAAIEQ) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression. Findings revealed a strong positive correlation between Fine and Applied Arts skills and entrepreneurship development (r = 0.716, p < 0.01), and regression analysis showed that innovation and entrepreneurship jointly accounted for 65.9% of the variance in sustainable development outcomes (R² = 0.659). The results demonstrate that creative and innovative art practices significantly enhance self-reliance, job creation, and poverty reduction, aligning with Schumpeter’s Innovation Theory and the UNCTAD Creative Economy Model. The study concludes that Fine and Applied Arts serve as both cultural and economic capital capable of driving inclusive growth and sustainability. It recommends curriculum reform, digital integration, establishment of creative hubs, and policy support to reposition Fine and Applied Arts as a strategic driver of entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Nigeria.