Nigeria’s cultural festivals poised for global recognition – Belgian Ambassador

The Belgium’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s cultural festivals will soon gain global recognition.

With strategic investment and collaboration, cultural festivals could become another major export, further cementing Nigeria’s reputation as a powerhouse of creativity.

Leenknegt disclosed this in Abuja, at the Cultural Canvas and Festival Exhibition, he praised Nigeria’s rich heritage and emphasized the importance of strategic investment and collaboration in the creative sector.

The event, organized by Sholate Entertainment Limited in collaboration with Cultural Canvas, served as a platform for artists, government officials, industry stakeholders, and creatives from various disciplines to celebrate and document Nigeria’s diverse cultural traditions.

Leenknegt said: “In the next few years, Nigeria’s cultural festivals will become world-famous, and there’s no doubt about it, I am happy to be a privileged observer of this journey.”

The exhibition, designed to showcase and promote Nigeria’s artistic and cultural expressions, drew participation from key figures in government and the creative industry.

In her remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim-Suleiman, represented by her senior assistant on creative affairs, Rukkuya Muhammed, highlighted the unifying power of the creative sector.

The minister emphasized that arts, music, and film could foster national cohesion, and applauded the festival’s role in celebrating Nigerian heritage and acknowledged the significant contributions of women in the creative industry.

She said: “These are mediums that the government can leverage to unite the country. For the first time, Nigeria has a Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. This is a great opportunity to organize and support the creative sector.”

Also speaking, CEO of Sholate Entertainment Limited, Emmanuel Solate, revealed that cultural collaborations with countries like Australia are in progress.

He stressed that the Cultural Canvas initiative serves as a platform to educate Nigerians and the diaspora about their rich heritage while promoting modern, traditional, and futuristic artistic expressions.

He said: “It is a platform for artists, modern, traditional, and futuristic to showcase and explore Nigerian culture on the global stage.

“Nigeria stands to gain by reclaiming its cultural identity. Many Nigerians, including those in the diaspora, are unaware of their heritage. This platform is an opportunity to educate ourselves about who we are.”

However, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented by Chief Obinna Nwaka, also underscored the role of cultural festivals in fostering unity and economic growth.

He said: “A lot of business moguls are young people who are investing in and contributing to culture. Olawande noted. “One of the easiest ways to showcase our heritage is by digitizing it, especially since most of our youth are online.”

With growing international interest and government backing, Nigeria’s cultural festivals appear poised to gain global prominence, further positioning the country as a hub for artistic and creative excellence.