Culture missioners, enthusiasts, playwrights and youth ambassadors, among others, have raised the need to use creative sector for peaceful co-existence. They spoke at a forum on ‘Reflections and Fests -an Int’l Gathering Celebrating Nigeria’ organised by Biodun-Thomas Davids, a journalist and dramatist, which held recently in Lagos.

They said socio-economic and political activities thrive tremendously in any peaceful ntion, especially when the tools of creative industry are deployed and encouraged.

The General Manager,  National Theatre, now  Wole Soyinka  Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Tola Akerele, while reflecting on: ‘Harnessing Cultures in Nigeria for National Peace and Unity’, said, “culture softens ground where dialogue can happen; where political arguments fail, a simple song can heal; where suspicions thrive, the stage can open eyes.”

Akerele, who was represented by the Head, Human Resource Management of the centre, Mrs. Bunmi Jimoh, added, “where division tries to sow itself like a weed, our stories become the  counter-narrative, telling us, ‘Look closer, you and this other person are not so different’.”

She said Nigeria is changing and young people are redefining identity using digital tools, music, films, theatre and fashions to build new pathways.

According to her,”they are already speaking language of unity; one that is creative, expressive and bold and it is our responsibility to amplify it.”

She reasoned, “let us all imagine a Nigeria where cultural exchange is not an occasional event but a national mindset, where a Yoruba child knows the story of Queen Amina and an Igbo child can dance Koroso, and Nigeria where a Hausa child  can perform Tiv folktales, a Nigeria where every Nigerian proudly says, ‘All of these cultures belong to me.’ “That is the Peace we seek that is the unity we deserve.”

In his keynote address, titled, ‘Youths As a Catalyst for Fostering National and International Peace, Unity and Progress in Nigeria’, the Lagos State  Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobaloji Ogunlende, identified economic empowerment especially for youths as the most effective form of peace building.

He said it is the “most profound link that’s often overlooked.”

While discountenancing charity instead of empowerment for youth, Ogunlende who was represented by Obadare Adenekan, said,”our call is not for charity but for strategic partnership. We need you to move beyond tokenism involvement and commit to venture-level economical investment, technical  mentorship and streamlined regulatory access for these young innovators. This is how we can collectively insulate our nation from economic volatility.”

While making case for  creative economy in Nigeria, the organiser, Davids pointed out that, “aside its unifying role, there is tourism attractions and millions to be made in Nigeria’s ethno-cultural diversity if well harnessed.”

He promised that season 2, scheduled to hold in the last quarter of the year, will deal more on performance.