The National Council for Arts and Culture concluded a two-day Culture and Creative Economy Summit (CCES) on Tuesday, with stakeholders urging the federal government to prioritize Creative Economy funding to boost the sector’s expansion for economic growth.
The rebranded and expanded summit was formerly known as the National Pre-summit for the National Festival for Arts and Culture and the International Arts and Crafts Expo, these are two of the flagship programs of the council and this was the 54th gathering but the first of this nature with the new format and brand.
The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who spoke at a fireside chat, introduced the Renaissance Project – a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalizing the creative economy across all states.
She outlined her strategy for securing funding at every stage, emphasizing the need for increased investment in the sector. She also invited all the states to contribute to the master document before it is submitted to the State Governors through the National Economic Council. The Renaissance Project is from the Minister’s office which is specifically focused on core initiatives that activate all the sub-nationals of Nigeria.
“With proper investment, the creative sector has the potential to surpass oil as the primary driver of the nation’s economy.”
The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika
The Minister also pledged her commitment to making the cultural sector profitable and a significant contributor to the nation’s GDP.
Themed “Harnessing the Power of Creativity for Economic Growth,” the NCAC DG talked about partnering with the private sector and digital platforms to create products and merchandise for hundreds of young Nigerian creatives, influencers, festivals, sports clubs, schools and more as we work to create the environment for monetisation.
The summit, which brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, and international partners, deliberated on strategies for promoting the culture and creative economy sector. Participants acknowledged the sector’s potential to heal and bond the nation, create jobs, and drive local and global opportunities.
Presentations also focused on several new initiatives, including the Minister’s Renaissance Project, and the Creative Leap Accelerator launched in July for the Creative industries. This initiative is aligned closely with ICE, the NCAC capacity-building platform and network of national hubs in partnership with the Isn Hubs.
A cultural presentation at the event
It is a global digital platform showcasing Nigeria’s history and culture from inception working with Playhouse Communications, one of Nigeria’s leading digital agencies. NCAC’s core partnerships with Mefa for Performance Venues across Nigeria will kick off in the next few weeks. Also a co-production partnership between the NCAC and Pure Imagination and Filmworks Ltd, the franchise holders for the Nigeria’s Got Talent format.
The show will go live in 2025 and will become one of the largest talent discovery platforms in the world. The summit also featured presentations from partners such as TBWA, one of the largest advertising agencies in the world showcasing new approaches to NAFEST, INAC, and other flagship programs.
The forum of Commissioners and representatives of the States through permanent secretaries and state directors were all involved in interactive deliberations where the formats and programs were agreed upon and unanimously passed.
Earlier, the Director General of NCAC, Mr. Obi Asika unveiled the agency’s roadmap, highlighting key components, as well as NCAC’s vision and strategy for driving growth in the creative sector.
The communique issued at the end of the summit emphasized the importance of effective government funding, the adoption of digital platforms, and the organization of NCAC’s flagship programs to meet global standards.
Stakeholders called for regular interactions between federal and sub-national entities to facilitate the realization of the Ministry’s vision of making the creative sector profitable and a significant contributor to the nation’s GDP.
The summit brought together key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Bank of Industry, IDICE, IFC and state commissioners, permanent secretaries, and directors of state councils for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. In this regard, the sub-nationals could hear directly from the major funders and build networks to enable their programs.
See more photos from the event below:
