Afolabi Calls for Greater Investment in Nigeria’s Creative Industry
Dr. Taiwo Afolabi has advocated increased investment, stronger partnerships, and greater professionalisation within Nigeria’s creative industry, emphasising the need to convert Africa’s indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage into sustainable innovation, economic opportunities, and value for future generations.
Afolabi made the call at the 39th International Conference and 40th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), held at Lead City University, Ibadan, where he served as Chairman of the Occasion. The conference was themed “African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Performance, Film and Sustainable Futures.”
Represented at the event by Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, Afolabi described Nigeria’s indigenous knowledge as an important yet largely untapped national resource. He noted that this heritage has been preserved over generations through storytelling, music, dance, drama, festivals, proverbs, traditional performances, and other cultural forms.
According to him, theatre and film have an important role to play in preserving this heritage while also adapting it for modern audiences.
“The real opportunity before us is to transform indigenous knowledge into contemporary cultural and economic value.”
He urged creative practitioners, academics, government agencies, businesses, and cultural organisations to develop indigenous stories into world-class theatre productions and films capable of competing internationally. He also highlighted the role of technology in documenting traditional knowledge that has historically been passed down through oral traditions.
Afolabi said Nigeria’s creative sector has the capacity to contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, tourism, cultural diplomacy, and the country’s international image. He pointed to the global success of African music as an example of the possibilities that emerge when local creativity is professionally developed and presented to international audiences.
However, he stressed that achieving comparable global recognition for theatre, film, and other indigenous cultural expressions would depend on consistent funding, professional standards, collaboration, and a strong focus on quality.
He further advocated closer cooperation between government, private businesses, academic institutions, creative professionals, and cultural organisations. According to him, the private sector can support the industry through more than sponsorship by providing investment, technology, training, capacity development, and platforms that help creative entrepreneurs build sustainable ventures.
The Chairman encouraged participants to ensure that the conference generates practical solutions, meaningful partnerships, and policy recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s creative ecosystem.
“Let this conference be a bridge between our rich cultural past and the sustainable future we desire.”
He maintained that indigenous knowledge should not be regarded solely as a record of Africa’s history, but as a valuable resource capable of shaping the continent’s future.
Afolabi also stressed the need for authenticity and responsible storytelling. He encouraged African creatives to tell their stories from their own perspectives, avoid stereotypes, and showcase the continent’s diversity, creativity, ingenuity, and cultural wealth to audiences around the world.
At the conference, Afolabi was presented with the Grand Excellence in Leadership Award in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the advancement of Nigeria’s creative industry.
