The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to establish “Renewed Hope Cultural Villages” across the 36 states of the country in a bid to promote and leverage Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and fledgling creative industry.
According to Barr. Abiola Abdulkareem Jagunlabi, the Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, the project is part of the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope Cultural Project,” which aims to drive economic growth by preserving the nation’s cultural heritage and promoting tourism.
Jagunlabi stated that establishing the cultural villages aims to transform Nigeria’s historic sites into creative hubs and foster economic growth by creating jobs in the arts and entertainment sectors. Jagunlabi added that the project will focus on conserving and restoring Nigeria’s historic sites, monuments, palaces, and artefacts.
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According to the Vanguard, the cultural villages will be established in collaboration with state governments and primed as hubs for cultural education and capacity building in local crafts.
“The project’s success relies on the active participation and collaboration of state governments, local communities, and stakeholders. “By working together, Nigeria can unlock the transformative power of its arts, culture, tourism, and creative industries for sustainable development and social cohesion,” Jagunlabi said.
“The initiative, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to significantly impact the country’s economy, creating thousands of jobs and generating revenue through tourism and creative enterprises, ” Jagunlabi said.
Nigeria’s bid to establish cultural villages syncs with the global trend that has proven significant in various countries worldwide. Cultural villages offer a range of utilities that contribute to cultural preservation, tourism, and sustainable development. For one, cultural villages are pivotal to preserving cultural heritage, as apparent in South Africa’s cultural villages such as the Basotho Cultural Village, Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre, and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat region.
Cultural Villages also boast a host of utilities. Cultural villages attract tourists by offering immersive experiences such as traditional music, dance, crafts, and cuisine. Prime examples are South Africa’s Shangana Cultural Village, showcasing Zulu and Tsonga cultures through performances and craft-making.
China’s Liujiang Village revitalised Beijing’s economy through a rural tourism centre on folk art and traditions. As apparent in Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, cultural villages are also sources of economic empowerment, which support 700,000 inhabitants through sustainable tourism initiatives. Similarly, Ecuador has leveraged cultural heritage for economic development in small settlements.
Per Nigeria’s cultural villages, Jagunlabi also revealed that the National Economic Council (NEC) has already approved the project, paving the way for transforming Nigeria’s creative industry. Jagunlabi reiterated the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hajia Hannatu Musa Musawa’s commitment to boosting Nigeria’s economy through innovative programmes and policies.
To achieve this, the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy is forging partnerships to develop the creative industry, unlocking job opportunities for the country’s youth. Jagunlabi said this comprehensive approach will enhance Nigeria’s creative industry and contribute to the country’s economic diversification and development.
As a multi-ethnic nation with over 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria is positioned to reap many benefits from its potential investments in cultural villages. Establishing cultural villages is poised to serve Nigeria’s bid for cultural preservation, education, tourism, national development, and the overarching need for repositories of communal cultural properties such as figurines, pottery, and shrines.
Properly managed cultural villages will also recoup economic resources for Nigeria and boost its tourism sector. The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Groves and the Bauchi Durbar Festival are valid demonstrations of cultural sites that have become hubs for tourism while generating revenue for local communities. By leveraging cultural villages, Nigeria can become a global tourist destination as the possible showcase of immersive experiences into Nigeria’s unique traditions promises immense economic returns.
