Vice President Kassim Shettima on Wednesday said Nigeria’s carnival industry has great potential to not only promote the country’s rich cultural heritage but also promote national unity and cohesion and empower the youth. .
He noted that the government is positioning the country’s carnival industry to leverage the global carnival market, estimated at $5 billion, as a strategic lever for the country’s economic growth.
Shettima said this during a meeting with Abuja International Carnival delegates at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, said in a statement signed on Wednesday titled “Vice President Shettima: A vibrant carnival industry unites Nigeria and empowers our youth.” The details of the meeting were revealed.
Shettima highlighted the immense potential of the $5 billion global carnival market to support Nigeria’s economic growth plans.
He said: “The global carnival market is estimated to be worth $5 billion. This highlights its potential to support our economic growth plans.
“As well as promoting our rich cultural heritage, it also promotes national unity and cohesion. We also need to look at the potential for economic value addition.”
Shettima pledged President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s support for youth enterprises in the creative industries, which he said could boost employment and national cohesion.
He pointed to the success of major carnival events around the world, such as the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, which attracts 200 million tourists each year, and the Calabar Carnival, which is linked to the cultural heritage of the Efik/Ibibio people. .
“The Abuja Carnival used to be a much bigger event and I urge you to expedite all efforts to host this event,” Vice President Shettima appealed to the Abuja International Carnival delegation.
The Vice President also highlighted the government’s investment in the Digital and Creative Enterprises Project, a $618 million initiative aimed at supporting the digital and creative industries, including the Carnival sector.
Earlier, the CEO of Abuja International Carnival, Kehinde Adegbite, thanked the Vice President for his support and outlined plans to partner with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to revitalize the carnival.
“We met with the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Msawa, who is creatively minded and agreed to partner with the ministry on this project.
“Carnival brings unity, empowers young people and helps discover talent,” he said.
