Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah has urged Nigerians to transform their cultural power into real economic values , creating millions of jobs and sustainable growth for the nation.
He made the call on Tuesday while declaring open a One- Day “Culture and Creative Economy Summit ” held at the Landmark Nike Resort, Enugu.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, “Monetising Culture and Creative Industries at the Sub- national Level”, Governor Mbah who was represented by the secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, said Enugu state government had set a target of growing her economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and to move the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forward, it required that every sector will play it’s role, the state will partner with entities of the Federal government that is knowledgeable and open the culture and Creative values of Enugu state.
“Enugu state is proud to stand with the federal government in this vision. We are ready to provide platforms, infrastructure and partnerships that will help unlock the real potentials of Nigeria’s creative sector from nollywood to Afrobeat , from heritage to tourism to digital innovation.
“The message is clear. The creative economy is not just entertainment. It is Nigeria’s blue economy “, Mbah said.
Commending the minister for culture and tourism for her leadership, Governor Mbah urged the private sector, cultural custodians and young people to create the legacy of “Nigeria where our culture is celebrated , our creativity rewarded and our economy transformed.
” What we have found out is within economic sector, within our tourism space , there are huge opportunities to harness not just an imagery but for us to intentionally and carefully partner with entities of the federal government that are knowledgeable and lots of aspects where people will open culture and historic values of Enugu state.
He announced that Enugu state will host the National Festival of Arts( NAFEST) in November,2025 and had carefully, built the necessary infrastructure for a successful hosting. He said it will be an Ecosystem of economic activities, noting that, ” Enugu is open for business”. Governor Mbah viewed that more money should be pumped into the culture ,Arts and tourism sector.
In her keynote address, the Keynote Speaker, a Professor of Media, at the University of Creative Arts, United Kingdom, Prof Lyndsay Duthie, while speaking on the topic,” Creative Economies UK issues and Nigeria’s opportunity”, said creating wealth through culture and creativity is all about collaboration, innovation, and technology; ” culture and creativity equals economic power”.
She noted that culture power is not only about the economic power but also about the influence it can have as well.
Speaking on why government invest in creativity, Professor Duthie said money is made through content production and to upskill, there has to be a good policy, infrastructure and incentives
” Nigeria has the most credible opportunities to develop it’s creative economy. It goes beyond population. The government should bring the works together to create. something that is sustainable”, she said.
On what Nigeria can learn from UK, Prof Duthie said Nigeria can learn government initiatives, develop the health sector, film industries, and be competitive on the world stage, develop their talents and skills that are needed, develop the curriculum..
She advocated that people should come together as a crew from different discipline and lobby the government to see the economic values of Creative Arts .
The Keynote speaker highlighted the roadmap to growth which included job creation engine, music, film and nollywood, fashion beauty, tourism and cultural festivals among others.
On strategic pillars for growth, Prof Duthie said there should be funding, infrastructure, and world class creativity ,
On Global soft power strategy, she advised partnership , Curriculum development, and taking training to the next level.
Speaking with Newsmen, the Director General of the National Council of Arts and Culture, Obi Asika noted that Creative Economy is a viable way of growing Nigeria’s economy.
He said the summit was the gathering of all Commissioners, permanent secretaries and directors of Arts and culture, where they brainstormed about the sector. He described the theme as apt, noting that for money to be made in the creative arts sector one must invest in the process.
According to him, a target of $100 billion by 2030 and $250 billion by 2035 is achievable and Nigeria has to invest in the sector.
Obi Asika who is the chairman of the 2025 National festival of Arts and Culture ( NAFEST) holding in Enugu in November, said Enugu was chosen because ” Enugu is a great place to host NAFEST” , the infrastructure is there and ” we hope Enugu state will give us the best . Culture has always been here”, Asika said.
He expressed Nigeria ‘s readiness to grow the nation’s economy saying “We are ready. There should be a lot of policies and implementations of Creative Arts”.
On her parts the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism,Dame Ugochi Mmadueke said Enugu state had set the platform for the sector to thrive.
Speaking, the Executive secretary Enugu state Arts and Culture,Laurence Ani said a lot of things had been done to develop Creative Arts sector. “The creative industry is tangible. We are doing a lot, creating platforms for young people to develop their talents and writing skills,” he said.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama
