Utilising Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity For Economic Growth

By most accounts, Nigeria is blessed with several ethnic groups endowed with rich cultures and traditions that, if properly exploited, can generate revenue for the government and provide employments.
Cultural diversity is fundamental to development so much so that every May 21 is observed as World Day for Cultural Diversity to help people learn about the importance of cultural diversity and harmony.
During the observance, there are exhibitions to help people understand the history of various cultural groups and awareness on cultural values and the need to preserve them.
In the light of its importance,  the Director-General of National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe,  said the Federal Government had identified culture and tourism as the lever of Nigeria’s economic growth.
He noted that government’s policy towards leveraging on the culture sector of the country informed the current theme – culture is the new oil of NCAC.
“My is aimed at repositioning the culture sector and make the people see it as the new oil; crude oil will eventually dry up, but our culture will always be there; culture will soon be our new cash cow for the Nigerian economy,’’ Runsewe said.
Similarly, the Director of Cultural Industries and Heritage in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture,Mr Seyi Womiloju,  said the Federal Government had been creating enabling environment for the culture sector in the country to flourish.
According to him, aside giving support to cultural festivals and events in the country, the government, over the years, has built 12 cultural industries across the country to enhance production of local arts and craft to boost youth employment.
He noted that contract for building of additional three cultural industries had been awarded in 2016.
He observed that the industries would engage in the production of indigenous arts and craft and other local products that could be exported to other countries to boost government revenue generation.
“If people can be serious about opportunities in these cultural centres and the state governments coordinate the activities very well, the products could be taken to other countries for exhibition.
“By doing so, foreign markets will be created for the products and the makers could make money and employ others to carry out mass production,’’ Womiloju said.
In his view,  the President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria,Chief Tomi Akingbogun, said Nigeria possessed festivals and cultural events that could attract tourists from all parts of the world.
“From the Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi to Calabar Carnival in Cross River, from Osun Osogbo Festival in Osun to Abuja Carnival; in fact Nigeria has a lot of cultural heritage and tourist sites.
“The unfortunate thing is that the potential has not been utilised for so many years and there has not been regular attention that could attract tourists,’’ he said.
Akingbogun said that some festivals which could attract tourists in the country were even moribund.
“I believe that if our cultural festivals and carnivals are enhanced, we will overtake Dubai as the best tourist destination”, he said.
Akingbogun noted that private sector involvement was very paramount in enhance the sector, observing that the government could not do it all alone without the involvement of the private sector.
Giving attention to cultural heritage and tourist sites across the country notwithstanding, Mr Emmanuel Adekoya, a culture expert, emphasised the need to patronise locally made products to boost the country’s economy.
He noted that culture was dynamic and could also help the country out of the present economic recession.
He also observed that the country stood a great chance of surviving the current economic meltdown if it could focus more on boosting production and exportation of indigenous products.
“You can get people like weavers, tie and dye experts and other local experts in fabric making to produce for schools, which can be a starting point.
“You can begin to look at those items we import from abroad which can be produce locally and begin to do them here.
“Not only that, we must patronise the local producers and by so doing, our culture and creative industries will blossom.
“When we begin to do this, you will find out that the quest for foreign exchange will reduce and automatically our naira will begin to appreciate,’’ he said.
Adekoya, however, said that it would be easier to sell the nation’s culture to the outside world only if Nigerians valued, appreciated, and placed high premium on the country’s cultural heritage.
He said it was essential for the country to have a good cultural framework which could be used to reach out to international communities.
“When people in other countries start to imbibe Nigerian culture, which includes music, cloths, food and others, the economic would blossom and the naira will gain strength, he stated.
Mr Kanayo Chukwumezie, a culture expert, therefore, said it would be necessary for the Federal Government and parents to step up efforts to inculcate indigenous cultural values and norms in the youth.
He said that it was regrettable that foreign culture had almost put in the shade the original culture of respect for elders, honesty, sincerity and communalism.
“Our culture has been dominated by foreign culture; you can see that most of the things the youth do these days are copied from radio and television stations.
“Most of our children don’t know about their culture; most of them don’t know how to speak their native languages,’’ he said.
Analysts, nonetheless, observe that culture can only be the country’s cash cow if there effective synergy, understanding and commitment by both the public and private sectors.
Yakubu-Hammer writes for News Agency of Nigeria