Lagos, Nigeria – In a powerful and unifying discourse that has reshaped the narrative around national productivity, thought leaders at the Creative Designer Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) summit have proclaimed culture as the definitive, untapped economic capital for 21st-century Nigeria.
The event, held at NECA House in Alausa, Ikeja, became a platform for a paradigm shift, moving the conversation about culture from mere heritage to a strategic driver of commerce and global influence.
The keynote address, delivered by Bishop Dr. Joseph Edoro Ighalo, set the transformative tone. He resonated with the eclectic audience, stating that “culture remains one of the deepest veins of human civilization and economic identity,” describing it as the “unseen rhythm that shapes art, industry, and the shared imagination of a people.”
He challenged contemporary Nigeria to awaken to the understanding that “culture is not merely costume, music or ritual, but, that it is capital.”
Bishop Ighalo presented a compelling case, with Nollywood as his central evidence. He revealed that the Republic’s creative industry is no longer a decorative sector but a formidable “economic engine room,” contributing an estimated $97 trillion to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, a staggering increase from $1.55 trillion in 2020.
He further highlighted that Nollywood, producing roughly 2,500 films annually, captured 50.05 percentof the nation’s total box office revenue in the first half of 2024.
In his closing, he issued a profound charge: “When a nation exports her stories, she exports her spirit which strengthens her economy while beautifying her humanity.”
This vision was echoed by other dignitaries. The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Board, Mrs. Adebukola Agbamiloja, emphasized Lagos’s position at the “nexus of creativity and vibrancy,” urging collaboration and innovation. The Consul General of the German Embassy, Mr. Daniel Krull, pledged his government’s continued support for CDGN’s mission.
Adding a crucial governance dimension, Mrs. Joy Osawaru Akinyemi, Convener of the Apostolic Round Table, announced the “PVC Naija” and “A nite 4 Naija” initiatives, advocating for a “Training Before Tribute” model to cultivate leaders with integrity, asserting that “you don’t reward what you haven’t refined.”
The summit concluded with a clear consensus: Nigeria’s path to economic diversification and global relevance is powerfully linked to strategically investing in and exporting its vibrant cultural assets.
