CultureFest To Boost Tourism, Transform Northern Nigeria Into Premier Destination

724

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is launching a major cultural initiative, “CultureFest”, aimed at promoting Northern Nigeria’s rich heritage to boost its economy, create jobs, and foster unity. 

According to The Nation, the new direction signals a shift for the ACF, which seeks to redefine its role beyond politics to focus on culture, enterprise, and regional development.

Driving the event is the organisation TruNorth, led by media expert and tourism advocate Aisha Garba. Aisha Garba clarified that the ACF initiative serves as a multifaceted platform, promoting non-kinetic approaches to peacebuilding in the region.

The festival will officially commence with a “Tourism for Security Summit” in Abuja on October 9. The summit will bring together policymakers, cultural leaders, investors, and security experts to explore how cultural initiatives can be leveraged to promote peace and stability.

Garba emphasised that CultureFest is more than just a celebration; it’s a strategic tool for socio-economic revitalisation. “CultureFest is not just cultural; it is economic, social, and security-related. It will attract visitors, create jobs, build tolerance, and strengthen pride in our identity,” she said.

The initiative is supported at the highest level, with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy serving as a full partner. Garba noted that the Honourable Minister is co-hosting the summit, indicating that the project is a national priority.

READ MORE

• Port Harcourt Bole Festival 2025: New Date, Same Unmissable Vibe

• Sango Festival in Oyo 2025: Yoruba Heritage, Rituals, and UNESCO Recognition

• Abuja Set to Host Inaugural Groovy December Festival to Boost Tourism & Economy

Looking ahead, Garba shared a comprehensive vision for the festival and the North.

“On the economic side, we are creating events that will attract visitors, both local and international. That means hotels will get filled up, food vendors will make sales, artisans will sell their crafts, and transport firms will get passengers and gain.

“Then there will be the direct jobs created by festivals: ushers, security personnel, stagehands, and performers when you string that in multiple states in the North, the impact multiplies.

“CultureFest is a tool for integration. The North is diverse, comprising Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Tiv, Nupe, Jukun, and other groups. Often, people live in silos, knowing little about one another.

“By creating festivals that bring people together across state and ethnic lines, we build familiarity, tolerance, and harmony. CultureFest is not just a festival but a movement.

“It begins with a summit in Abuja, where policymakers, investors, and community leaders will explore how culture and tourism can serve as non-kinetic tools for peacebuilding and development.”

“That summit sets the tone. Beyond that, we’ll be unveiling a full calendar of CultureFest events across multiple states, each crafted to showcase different aspects of Northern heritage and creativity.

“From immersive exhibitions that capture the grandeur of the region to food and fashion showcases, music and arts festivals, nature expeditions, and adventure tourism, each will reintroduce the world to Northern Nigeria in fresh and powerful ways.

“This is not a one-off celebration. CultureFest is intended to be an annual event in the North, similar to Coachella in the US or the Marrakech Festival in Morocco.

“The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy is a full partner in this effort. The Honourable Minister is co-hosting the Summit, and the ministry’s staff have been exceptionally supportive in bringing us to this point.

“Their commitment shows that this is not just an ACF initiative but a national priority with the weight of government and cultural leadership behind it.

“Tourism is not the sole responsibility of government; it is a shared duty that requires the private sector, development partners, and forward-thinking individuals to play their part.”

She added, “TruNorth is the platform driving CultureFest in partnership with the ACF, but our mission goes far beyond organising festivals.

“Our vision is to create a connected and empowered Northern Nigeria, where culture, enterprise, and innovation serve as engines of prosperity.

“We do this by building ecosystems, linking members, partners, and service providers across tourism, technology, agriculture, and creative industries.

“More importantly, True North operates as a bridge between governance systems, government institutions, and the governed.

“We work to loosen bottlenecks, open channels of communication, and facilitate policy outcomes that directly benefit communities.

“Our objective is simple but ambitious: to give Northerners, especially young people, the tools, opportunities, and networks they need to thrive both locally and globally.

“CultureFest is the launchpad, but the broader TruNorth agenda is about transforming culture into commerce, identity into opportunity, and community into collective progress.

“In five years, I see a Northern Nigeria that is confident, creative, and connected. I see young people proudly learning their languages, dressing in their cultural attire, and building businesses around heritage.

“I see tourists flying into Kano or Maiduguri not for transit but for festivals, safaris, and food tours. I see communities where Kanuri and Tiv, Hausa and Nupe, and Fulani and Jukun don’t just coexist but celebrate together.

“I see security improved, not only because of stronger forces but because communities are alive with enterprise, pride, and opportunity.

“And I see the ACF, under Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu’s leadership, remembered not just as a political forum, but as the catalyst that turned Northern Nigeria’s culture into its greatest engine of progress. That’s the North we’re working towards.”

She expressed her intense passion for promoting Northern Nigeria’s cultural heritage, describing it as a unifying force and a potential driver of development.

Speaking in an interview, Garba said her mission is to amplify authentic Northern voices, showcase traditions to broader audiences, and highlight how heritage can inspire progress for future generations.

She recalled her recent trips to Dutse, Jigawa State, where she experienced the traditional Durbar, and to Yusufari, Yobe State, where she explored desert tourism potential.

According to her, those experiences revealed the untapped opportunities in culture and tourism as tools for both development and security.

 

Showcase Nigeria Through Your Lens – Join Our Open Call for Creators

Are you a photographer, videographer, or content creator passionate about capturing Nigeria’s beauty, from fashion runways and cultural festivals to tourist landmarks and local events? Our Open Call for Content Creators in Nigeria is your opportunity to get featured, collaborate, and bring authentic Nigerian stories to life. Whether you’re into travel, lifestyle, or visual storytelling, we want to see Nigeria through your eyes.

 Stay updated with the latest tourism news in Nigeria and beyond, featuring cultural festivals, travel updates, destination highlights, and insights that shape Africa’s growing tourism industry.

 

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

What is CultureFest?

CultureFest is a new initiative by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) aimed at promoting and celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of Northern Nigeria. It aims to serve as an economic, social, and security tool by attracting tourism, creating jobs, fostering unity, and promoting peace.

Who is organising CultureFest?

CultureFest is an ACF initiative being driven by TruNorth, a platform led by media expert and tourism advocate Aisha Garba, in full partnership with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.

What are the main goals of CultureFest?

The primary goals are:

Economic: To create jobs and stimulate local economies by attracting local and international tourists.

Social: To foster unity, tolerance, and harmony among the diverse ethnic groups of the North.

Security: To use culture and tourism as non-kinetic tools for peacebuilding and development, reducing insecurity by creating opportunities.

Cultural: To strengthen pride in Northern identity and showcase its rich heritage to the world.

When does CultureFest begin?

The initiative will kick off with a “Tourism for Security Summit” in Abuja on October 9, which will set the tone for a full calendar of events to be rolled out across multiple states.

Is this a one-time event?

No, CultureFest is designed to be an annual series of events, similar to major international festivals, and will become a regular feature in Northern Nigeria’s cultural calendar.

What is TruNorth?

TruNorth is the platform partnering with the ACF to implement CultureFest. Its broader mission is to empower Northern Nigeria by connecting culture, enterprise, and innovation, providing young people with tools and opportunities for prosperity.