Beyond Oil: Leveraging Nigeria’s cultural heritage for national development
Undoubtedly, people’s lives, economic values, and outlooks are often shaped by their cultural affinities.
Anthropologists hold that negative cultural identities or practices can undermine any nation, state, or community.
Research shows that communities, states and nations with clearly defined positive cultural values and focus can progress economically and socially.
In essence, a community, state, or nation’s economic and social development cannot be separated from its rich cultural heritage.
Nigeria is a culturally diverse nation with rich heritage sites and artifacts. Efficiently harnessing these resources could significantly improve the country’s GDP, international standing, and foreign reserves.
President Bola Tinuba-led administration envisions generating and contributing 100 billion dollars to the country’s GDP from Nigeria’s creative economy and creating more than 2 million jobs by 2030 through the monetisation of cultural assets.
Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, provided further insights at the inauguration of a project in Abuja to advance evidence-based policies aimed at enhancing the contribution of creative sectors and industries to sustainable development.
The minister said that the cultural, creative and tourism sector was a critical component of the national economy and remained a significant player in national development.
She added that the project was being supported by the EU and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
In line with this, the ministry is implementing a four-stage plan–assessment, valuation, strategy, and execution—to monetise assets like Benin bronzes, Adire textiles, and the indigenous languages.
Interestingly, Nigeria is blessed with rich cultural festival such as the Ojude-Oba Festival of the Akwa Ibom, the Argungu Fishing Festival of Kebbi, the Nkot Mbok Festival of Akwa Ibom state, the New Yam (Iriji) Festival of the SouthEast region.
Others include the Durbar festivals of Katsina, Kano, and Zaria, as well as the Eyo Festival celebrated in Lagos. There are also the Ohafia and Abiriba war dances.
Nigeria also has cultural sites such as the Gurara and the Kurudu waterfalls, the Obutu Cattle Ranche in Calabar and the boat regatta of the South South region.
The Osun-Osogbo Festival in Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria, held every August, is dedicated to Osun: the Yoruba goddess of fertility, purity, beauty, and abundance.
The festival is more than a religious or cultural event; recognised by UNESCO in 2005 as a World Heritage treasure, it continues to draw spiritual pilgrims, artists, and cultural scholars from across the globe.
The Ohafia War Dance is a popular war dance performed in some parts of Southeast.
The dance is a fundamental identity of the people of Ohafia, hinged on the performance of ‘ikpirikpi ogu’ in celebration of defeating and beheading a fallen enemy.
The dance is performed by a group of muscular men in commemoration of their strength in fighting and winning wars in the past.
The Kano Durbar Festival is a spectacular centuries-old cultural and equestrian celebration in Northern Nigeria, marking the end of Ramadan (Eid-el-Fitr) and Eid-el-Kabir.
It is a four-day programme that features thousands of lavishly decorated horses, traditional dancers, and musicians, showcasing the rich Hausa cultural heritage, loyalty, and history.
More so, the Ojude Oba festival is a vibrant annual Yoruba celebration held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, to pay homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland.
This cultural spectacle features elaborate horse processions by warrior families, paraded by age-grade groups.
Stakeholders say these festivals, heritages and sites could be elaborately utilised as year-round economic drivers for the states and by extension the Federal Government rather than as temporary regional events.
They could be used to portray Nigeria to the outside world while boosting its economic resources.
At the recent Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi on Feb. 14, Tinubu, the Special Guest of Honour, described the event as having a remarkable history and being a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
He said that the festival reflected the richness of Nigerian culture, the strength of Nigerian tradition and the opportunities that lay in harnessing her natural resources for national development.
“A socio-cultural event like this can only thrive and become a tourist attraction when the security atmosphere is conducive,” the President had said.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera, at the festival reminded the Federal Government of a permanent fishing centre under construction since 2020, recognised by UNESCO but which was later abandoned.
In Abia, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chief Matthew Ekwuribe, also at an event, affirmed the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment to grow and strengthen the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The commissioner said that the government was poised at putting the necessary measures in place to attract investment, generate employment and position the state as a preferred tourism destination in the country.
He added that the Gov. Alex Otti’s administration remained focused on repositioning the hospitality and tourism sector to achieve sustainable growth and enhance competitiveness across the state.
Ekwuribe urged operators in the industry to align with government reform initiatives; adopt global best practices and leverage technology to improve service delivery while enhancing customer satisfaction levels.
In the same vein, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, while relishing the importance of culture, announced plans by his administration to redesign the Igbo-Ukwu Museum to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the South-East.
Soludo spoke during his visit to the Igbo-Ukwu community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state to inaugurate some projects.
“Part of my vision for the future of Igbo-Ukwu is to redesign the esteemed Igbo-Ukwu Museum, which showcases the rich Igbo cultural heritage.
“We have the renowned Igbo-Ukwu bronze, which is one of the oldest archaeological finds in Nigeria; we are reinvigorating our heritage to ensure it shines for future generations, connecting the past with a bright future.
“It will not just be about structures, but about our identity and pride,” he said.
At the 2026 Festival of Arts for Economic Development sponsored by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, Mr Olukayode Afeni, the Area Comptroller, said the initiative was to foster inclusive economic opportunities for the people of the area.
In Kebbi, culture is a crucial component in generating revenue internally.
Gov. Nasir Idris said his administration attracted over N330 billion foreign investments as part of the commitment to develop tourism and cultural heritage in the state.
Idris spoke at the 2025 Rigata Annual Cultural Festival in Yauri Local Government Area.
He said that the festival was not just a celebration, but a “testament to the state’s rich history, vibrant culture, and unity of the people.
Idris added that the festival played a crucial role in promoting tourism and economic development in Kebbi, attracting visitors from far and near.
“Our visit to China, with a view to attracting foreign investors, resulted in a signing of agreement with refutable investors worth 200 million dollars, which is equivalent to N330 billion,” he said.
The New Yam Festival of the South-East is equally deserving of attention, having stood the test of time.
Stakeholders argue that if governors of the five eastern states pool their resources to reimagine the festival as a symbol of unity and economic prowess, they could attract significant investment and structural development.
Culture aficionados contend that it is of utmost importance to develop a National Festival Calendar and improve infrastructure to attract international tourists.
They say partnering with international bodies like UNESCO, the EU and others to strengthen the digital capacities of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) provides a significant advantage.
“To boost its economic viability, Nigeria must pivot from oil dependency to leveraging its vast cultural and natural assets—including festivals, textiles, waterfalls, resorts, and UNESCO World Heritage sites,’’ they said.
Source: By Evangeline Chidi Opara, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
