‘Why African culture should drive youth empowerment, tourism promotion, others’

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Tourism, Arts and Culture Idris Aregbe has said that African Culture can be translated into a sustainable vehicle for youth empowerment, tourism promotion and other economic initiatives that resonate with global sustainable development goals (SDGs), given the latent economic potentials therein.

Aregbe said this during the just-concluded 17th edition of Culturati 2023 which showcased exciting and educating activities that weave around African culture, with Culturati food fiesta set to portray the rich assortment of African food and beverages, connecting various people to African food delicacies, components and economic opportunities, while boosting the local tourism and hospitality sector, at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island Lagos recently.

The featured brands and audience engagement with a number of interactive segments that amplified the beauty and diversity of African culture with the Culturati market showcasing the ingenuity of craftsmen, the Culturati food Court saturated with an assortment of delicacies portraying the richness of African cuisine, the Culturati Fashion Show which presented best dressed African of the evening carting home a prize.

On the ideology behind the event, the African cultural enthusiast with a penchant for creating value, Aregbe, who is also the Convener of the yearly event Culturati that brought tourists from around the world to Lagos, Nigeria for a delightful experience of the variety of culture, foods and beverages said the dire unemployment situation in Nigeria precipitated the cultural movement SISI-OGE in 2006 to bring attention to the potentials in African culture.

“Over the course of a decade, SISI-OGE metamorphosed into CULTURATI which has become Africa’s largest cultural fusion, continually creating business opportunities for many young cultural buffs to leverage on, rewarding cultural excellence while celebrating Africa’s rich and diverse heritage.”

Aregbe however noted that this year’s edition was a lot more robust as it was targeted at opening up economic opportunities in African culture for youth empowerment, Tourism promotion and general economic development.