Sources: Independent NG |
The NBM of Africa Worldwide has moved to strengthen Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy and Pan-African engagement, seeking a strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy ahead of the forthcoming FESTAC Africa 2026 in Dakar, Senegal.
The move followed a high-level courtesy visit by the NBM delegation to the Ministry, where discussions focused on leveraging culture, heritage and creative enterprise to deepen African unity, strengthen international partnerships and advance Nigeria’s role in the continent’s cultural renaissance.
FESTAC Africa 2026, scheduled for December 13 to 20 in Dakar, is being positioned as a high-level cultural and intellectual summit marking 60 years of Africa’s modern cultural renaissance, with culture identified as an instrument of diplomacy, continental development and intellectual engagement.
The engagement is particularly significant for Nigeria as the country prepares for the 50th anniversary of FESTAC ’77, the historic festival hosted by Nigeria in 1977, which brought together more than 17,000 participants from 59 Black African countries and communities.
The NBM delegation was led by Prof. Abubakar Sadeeq and included Dr. Ransome Oboh, High Chief Amb. Dr. Anyakora Chris Ugo, Prince Dr. Hassan Momoh and other distinguished members of the organisation.
The delegation explored areas of cooperation capable of strengthening Nigeria’s participation in continental cultural initiatives while promoting its rich heritage, creative talents and longstanding Pan-African identity.
The discussions also highlighted the potential of culture and the creative economy to promote youth empowerment, tourism, international partnerships and sustainable development, at a time Nigeria is seeking to maximise the economic and diplomatic value of its vast cultural assets.
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, established in 2024, has responsibility for strengthening Nigeria’s arts, culture, tourism and creative sectors, including festivals, heritage, film, music and creative industry development.
The NBM initiative comes as Nigeria’s cultural agencies intensify preparations for FESTAC ’77 @ 50, with the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation identifying heritage preservation, diaspora engagement, youth creativity, cultural diplomacy and creative innovation among the key pillars of the 2027 commemoration.
The engagement between the NBM and the Ministry therefore signals an opportunity to build stronger institutional bridges around Nigeria’s cultural heritage and Pan-African commitments, while ensuring that culture serves not merely as entertainment but as a powerful instrument for diplomacy, unity, economic opportunity and Africa’s global influence.