Governor Mbah Urges Nigerians to Turn Culture into Economic Power

Governor Mbah Urges Nigerians to Turn Culture into Economic Power

Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage is more than entertainment—it is an untapped economic powerhouse. This was the central message at the Culture and Creative Economy Summit held at the Landmark Nike Resort, Enugu, where Governor Peter Mbah called on Nigerians to transform culture into a driver of national prosperity.

Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah emphasized that the creative economy must be seen as central to Nigeria’s future.

“The creative economy is not just entertainment; it is Nigeria’s blue economy,” he said.

He reminded participants of Enugu’s ambitious target to grow its economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2030, stressing that culture and creativity have a vital role to play.

Enugu to Host NAFEST 2025

Governor Mbah announced that Enugu will host the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in November 2025, assuring that the state has invested in infrastructure to ensure a successful event.

“It will be an ecosystem of economic activities. Enugu is open for business,” he added.

Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, described the summit as historic, noting that the state is already investing in eco-tourism, film, music, and cultural platforms that connect creativity with commerce.

Expert Insights on Creative Growth

Keynote speaker Prof. Lyndsay Duthie of the University of Creative Arts, UK, stressed that building wealth through culture requires collaboration, innovation, and technology. She argued that Nigeria’s creative future depends on education, funding, and infrastructure, summing it up as: “Culture and creativity equal economic power.”

The Director General of the National Council of Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, projected that Nigeria could build a $100 billion creative economy by 2030 and expand it to $250 billion by 2035 with deliberate investments.

Toward a Cultural Economy

The summit, themed “Monetising Culture and Creative Industries at the Sub-National Level,” gathered stakeholders from across Nigeria to explore ways of turning cultural wealth into sustainable economic growth.

With Enugu leading the charge, Governor Mbah’s vision is clear: a Nigeria where culture is celebrated, creativity rewarded, and the economy transformed.

Source: The Guardian Nigeria