Culture and tourism, Nigeria’s next crude oil – DG NCAC

Federal Government exploring the Arts and Culture sector as part of efforts to diversity the country’s economy and reduce over dependence on oil.

The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Otunba Runsewe said the Arts and Culture will be Nigeria’s next oil and huge source of revenue if properly harnessed.

Runsewe made this known at the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the 2022 International Arts & Crafts Expo Abuja (INAC), themed “Networking Nigerian Crafts to the World”, with over 20 countries and 7 Nigerian states in attendance.

The Director General said the aim of the Arts and Craft Expo is to tell Nigeria’s story to the whole world.

He said, “What we are trying to do is to tell our story. Over 18 countries are represented. The next day, we will be getting up to 25 countries so what we want to do is to tell the Nigerian story that Nigeria is a place you can come for investment, a place people can come in to do business because people tell a lot of stories that are not ours and today I’m happy everyone is here, you can see the number of countries that are participating.

“Culture will be the next oil of Nigeria and I want all of us to know that oil will not be there forever. We must start thinking of alternatives and the secret that a lot of countries in Africa have not tapped is knowing what culture and tourism can do for every country.

“If all the state governors understand and appreciate what this sector can do; it will reduce crime, it will reduce unemployment, hate speeches will be a thing of the past for us.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Culture Orientation (NICO), Ado Yahuza, said the arts and creative industry have economic and social potential as culture remains a natural resource waiting to be tapped.

He added that with Nigeria’s cultural diversity, it is endowed to do exploit in terms of income generation and job creation among others.