Chief executives of culture agencies have raised the need for government to prioritise the culture sector. While emphasising the importance of culture sector, they said the allocation for them in the 2025 budget falls short of what is expected for these agencies to operate effectively in a country as vast and diverse as Nigeria.
The director generals noted that a robust investment in cultural initiatives could enhance community engagement, foster creativity, and drive tourism, ultimately contributing to the country’s overall prosperity and cultural heritage preservation.
They had appeared at the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism for the defence of their 2025 budget, which the Senate committee rejected. They said with capital budgets lower than a billion naira such as allocated to the National Troupe of Nigeria, which has a capital budget of 500 million, the Nigerian Film and Censors Board of 313 million, the National Theatre with a budget of 431 million and the National Gallery of Art 444 million, amongst others, this speaks volume of the government interest in the creative sector.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye; the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika and the Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Bashir Sodangi, made this known in separate interviews with The Guardian.
The NICO boss revealed that his four key initiatives that could significantly elevate Nigeria’s cultural sector, which include Global Cultural Tourism (World Orisa Congress) projected to generate approximately $5-6 billion, Dudu Plugs, a Global Cultural Digital Platform, which has the potential to bring in $15-20 billion, The Cultural Orientational Retreat Programme for Policy Makers and Law Makers estimated to bring a revenue of about N2 billion and The Nigeria Academy for Cultural Studies (NACUS) with the capacity of generating a revenue of an estimated N3 million. Despite their potential, these initiatives were unfortunately not included in the current budget.
He urged the government and lawmakers to take inspiration from nations such as China, Korea, and Japan, which have successfully prioritised their cultural sectors and reaped considerable benefits.
He further announced plans for the institute to offer programmes designed to help lawmakers and policymakers at all levels understand the vital link between culture and national development.
“Our lawmakers and policymakers may not fully recognise the vast potential of culture, which often leads to its undervaluation. Many countries with less cultural diversity than Nigeria have proven that this industry can be a significant revenue generator,” he said.
The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Obi Asika, while commending government for the establishment of the Ministry of Culture, Art, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, cautioned that the current budget allocation might limit its potential.
While a budget of N7 billion appears substantial, it only scratches the surface of what is necessary for meaningful progress. He noted that over the year, agencies have identified major projects capable of generating billions in revenue.
Asika called on government to reconsider budget allocations for the ministry and its agencies, emphasising that adequate funding is crucial for realising these promising projects and creating jobs.
“The establishment of a dedicated ministry is commendable, but without sufficient funding, these agencies will find it challenging to fulfill their potential. Their initiatives and roadmaps need robust financial support to drive productivity and align with policy objectives,” he explained.
The Director General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Ahmed Sodangi, expressed optimism about the senators’ understanding of need for adequate funding of the sector as a way to achieve the goals of cultural agencies.
He proposed the creation of an ‘Arts Endowment Fund,’ which will enable the pooling of resources from various sources including international donors, private foundations, and public contributions to bolster support for capital projects during budget constraints. Sodangi reiterated the agency’s commitment to aiding in the government’s efforts to enhance job opportunities within the sector.
“As public servants, we are dedicated to maximising every naira spent within the government’s budgetary framework while looking for innovative approaches to drive the art sector’s potential. This sector can be a catalyst for economic growth, cultural diplomacy, and social unity. With consistent support and creative strategies, we can unlock these opportunities for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he affirmed.
