NCAC, NGF Partner to Harness Cultural, Creative Industries for Development

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have forged a historic partnership to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries for sustainable development and economic growth.

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The partnership was formalized during a meeting at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. Attending the meeting were key leaders from both organizations. The NGF was represented by its Director General, Dr. AbdulLateef Shittu, alongside senior directors and staff, while the NCAC delegation was led by its Director General, Mr. Obi Asika.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Shittu emphasized the NGF’s commitment to fostering good governance, economic development, and national progress. He highlighted the Forum’s role as a unifying and non-partisan platform dedicated to advancing intergovernmental collaboration, innovative policymaking, and sustainable development across Nigeria’s 36 states. He reaffirmed the NGF’s mission to support governors in delivering impactful governance through capacity-building, evidence-based decision-making, and strategic partnerships. The collaboration with the NCAC, he noted, aligns with the Forum’s broader goal of strengthening sub-national governance and leveraging local resources for national prosperity.

In response, Mr. Asika outlined NCAC’s mission to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage while developing the creative economy. He invited the NGF to actively participate in two flagship NCAC programs: the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) and the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), held in Abuja from November 18 to 30, 2024. Mr. Asika also introduced the Renaissance Project, aimed at engaging sub-national governments, with further details to be shared by the Minister.

During the meeting, Mr. Asika unveiled key initiatives launched by the NCAC under the current administration:

Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE): A flagship capacity-building program targeting upskilling of 2 million Nigerians in the cultural and creative sectors by 2027, contributing to youth empowerment and job creation.

Origins: A multi-faceted digital platform developed in partnership with private sector stakeholders to document and celebrate Nigeria’s living cultural heritage. This platform will serve as a global cultural inventory, intellectual property index, and connection hub for Nigerians. Data collection from states has already begun, capturing diverse cultural expressions such as festivals, fabrics, cuisine, and performances.

Nigeria’s Got Talent: Partnering with the internationally renowned Got Talent franchise, NCAC plans to launch a new season in 2025. This initiative aims to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage and talent globally. State-based talent incubators will also be established to upskill at least 1,000 participants per state.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with Mr. Asika expressing gratitude for the NGF’s hospitality and productive discussions. He reaffirmed NCAC’s dedication to working with the Forum to achieve shared goals of socio-economic growth and development. Dr. Shittu requested the NCAC to develop a sub-national roadmap highlighting business opportunities in the cultural and creative sectors to drive job creation and economic growth. To this end, a high-level joint working committee has been formed to implement the partnership’s goals and frameworks.

This collaboration marks a transformative milestone, positioning culture and creativity as key drivers of Nigeria’s development. The NCAC and NGF encourage stakeholders, government agencies, private sector players, and international partners to join efforts in building a sustainable future for Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.

Oluchi Okwuego