Arts and cultural festivals are unmissable events that celebrate the diversity and creativity of the entertainment industry. This year, the 4th National Unity Festival, organized by Musawa, brought together a large crowd at the National Theater Complex in Lagos, with the main theme “Limitless Possibilities”.
In her speech, Mariam Ajaga, Special Advisor to Musawa on Visual Arts and Culture, highlighted the growing importance of the creative industry in the Nigerian economy. The government now recognizes the enormous potential of this sector and is committed to creating an environment conducive to its development.
According to Mariam Ajaga, this year’s theme, “Limitless Possibilities”, perfectly represents the limitless potential of the Nigerian creative industry. Nigerian artists are no longer limited by borders, their creativity now extends globally. Through partnerships with multinationals, Nigerian performance art is now available to global audiences.
She cited the example of Netflix, which invested more than $23.5 million to promote the Nigerian production “Black Book,” which has already been seen by more than 70 million people worldwide. This demonstrates the growing importance of the Nigerian entertainment industry and the recognition of the quality of its productions internationally.
Mariam Ajaga also highlighted that the Nigerian government is now more committed than ever to creating an enabling environment for the creative industry. President Bola Tinubu has implemented the Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at accelerating the growth of all sectors of the creative industry and the economy as a whole, in order to strengthen the country’s international competitiveness.
To conclude her speech, Mariam Ajaga called for the transformation of dreams into reality and the rewriting of the country’s narrative. She called on stakeholders in the creative industry to continue to develop infrastructure, strengthen collaborations, both local and foreign, and promote Nigeria’s unique cultural identity.
The festival was hosted by Professor Sunday Ododo, Director General of the National Theatre. He highlighted the resilience and creativity of the Nigerian artistic community, despite the challenges faced, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the ENDSARS protests. He also highlighted the therapeutic power of art and its role in collective healing.
The 4th National Unity Festival was a resounding success, demonstrating once again that the Nigerian entertainment industry is growing and playing a leading role on the international stage. With quality infrastructure and increased government support, the country has enormous potential to further develop its creative sector and contribute to the national economy.