In a historic collaboration, the National Council for Arts and Culture
(NCAC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have launched a strategic partnership aimed at
unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries for sustainable development and
economic growth in a meeting held at The Nigeria Governors Forum Secretariat, Maitama Abuja.
The meeting brought together the leadership of both organizations, with the Nigeria Governors’
Forum (NGF) represented by its Director General (DG), Dr. AbdulLateef Shittu, accompanied by key
directors and staff.
The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) delegation was led by its Director
General (DG), Mr. Obi Asika.
A Platform for Collaboration
In his welcome address, the DG of NGF underscored the Forum’s dedication to fostering good
governance, economic growth, and national development.
He highlighted the NGF as a unifying and
non-partisan platform committed to advancing intergovernmental collaboration, innovative policy
solutions, and sustainable development across Nigeria’s 36 states. Dr. Shittu reaffirmed the NGF’s
mission to support governors in delivering effective governance by prioritizing capacity-building,
evidence-based policymaking, and strategic partnerships.
The Forum’s alignment with initiatives such
as this collaboration with NCAC reflects its commitment to strengthening sub-national governance
and harnessing local resources for national prosperity.
Responding to the NGF’s warm reception, the DG of NCAC shared the mission of preserving and
promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage while fostering the development of the creative economy in
Nigeria. He invited the NGF to participate fully in two of NCAC’s flagship programs – the International
Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) and the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST). Both events took
place in Abuja from November 18th to 30th, 2024.
The DG mentioned the Renaissance project, which is
focused on the sub-nationals, and that the Minister will share this with the NGF.
More importantly, Mr. Asika unveiled key initiatives of the Council introduced by the current Administration:
Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE):
This flagship capacity-building program aims to
upskill up to 2 million Nigerians in the cultural and creative sectors by 2027, aligning with national
goals for youth empowerment and job creation.
Origins: NCAC is developing this multi-faceted digital platform in partnership with private sector
stakeholders to document and celebrate Nigeria’s living cultural heritage. It will serve as a global
cultural inventory, intellectual property index, and connection bridge for Nigerians. The program has
already commenced data aggregation from states, capturing diverse cultural expressions, including
