The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) is celebrating 50 years of promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, and Director General/CEO Obi Asika has used the occasion to acknowledge the contributions of various stakeholders in the country’s creative and tourism sectors.
In a speech marking the milestone, Asika praised the traditional arts and crafts sector, indigenous festivals, and cultural institutions across the country for preserving Nigeria’s cultural identity.
He also recognized the efforts of state councils for arts and culture, chief executives of culture groups, and public sector leaders who have worked tirelessly to advance the country’s cultural and tourism industries.
Asika extended his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his visionary leadership in creating the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, and for appointing him to lead NCAC.
He also thanked the supervising Minister, Hannatu Musawa, for her unwavering support and leadership.
The Director General highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in preserving and promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage, noting that they have remained the bedrock of the country’s cultural identity.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Nigeria’s global diaspora, who have played a significant role in shaping the country’s soft power.
Asika celebrated the rise of Nigerian soft power, which has reached over 2 billion followers across social media platforms and achieved billions of views and streams on multiple digital platforms.
He noted that Afrobeats, Nollywood, fashion, and Nigerian cuisine have globalized, bringing with them the special energy that all Nigerians carry.
The Director General also recognized the achievements of Nigerian athletes, filmmakers, fashion designers, and photographers who have made a significant impact globally.
He praised the likes of Ṣàde Adu, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo, and others who have proudly carried Nigerian heritage into mainstream global cinema.
Asika emphasized that Nigeria’s global diaspora has been instrumental in spreading Nigerian soft power, influencing music, sports, fashion, media, and business worldwide.
He noted that their success is a testament to the unstoppable rise of Nigerian excellence.
As NCAC marks 50 years of promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage, Asika urged every artist, performer, filmmaker, designer, content creator, entrepreneur, traditional ruler, and cultural ambassador to continue to champion the country’s creative future.
He emphasized that the future is limitless, and that Nigeria is blessed with enormous talent across all creative and tourism sectors.
