BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, and Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, have launched a strategic partnership aimed at unlocking the potentials of Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries for sustainable development and economic growth.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Nigeria Governors Forum Secretariat in Abuja.
The meeting brought together, the leadership of both organisations, with the NGF represented by its Director-General, Dr AbdulLateef Shittu, while the delegation of the NCAC was led by its Director-General, Mr Obi Asika.
In his welcome address, Dr Shittu underscored the forum’s dedication to foster good governance, economic growth and national development.
He described 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.
Shittu reaffirmed the forum’s mission to support governors in delivering effective governance by prioritising capacity-building, evidence-based policymaking and strategic partnerships.
Responding to the NGF’s warm reception, Mr.Asika shared the mission of preserving and promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, while fostering the development of the creative economy.
He invited the forum to participate fully in two of NCAC’s flagship programmes – International Arts and Crafts Expo, INAC, and the National Festival for Arts and Culture, NAFEST.
Asika mentioned the Renaissance project, which is focused on sub-nationals and that the minister would share this with the NGF.
He also unveiled key initiatives of the council introduced by the current administration which Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship, ICE.
He expressed his gratitude to NGF for the warm reception and fruitful discussions, reaffirming NCAC’s commitment to collaborate with the Forum to achieve shared socio-economic growth and development goals for states.
A statement by ,the Head of Media, NCAC, , Dr Dennis Olofu said a resolution jointly signed by Asika and Shittu, noted the formation of a high-level joint working committee to drive forward the planned collaboration and develop the framework.
