The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr Obi Asika, has called for urgent digitisation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage to ensure the nation remains relevant in the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
Speaking during a fireside chat at the GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference on Thursday in Lagos, Asika argued that Nigeria’s historical and cultural assets are critical to the development of AI and the growth of the creative economy.
He noted that ancient palaces across Northern Nigeria house centuries-old inscriptions and manuscripts in Hausa, Kanuri, and Fulfulde, documenting knowledge in science, mathematics, medicine, technology, and governance.
“These archives are repositories of innovation. We must transcribe and digitise them. If AI is not trained with our culture, Nigeria will be sidelined globally,” he said, warning that neglecting the digitisation of languages and cultural records could deepen Africa’s marginalisation in the digital era.
Asika pointed out that while AI, blockchain, and Web 3.0 are transforming industries, human creativity remains the defining value. “Platforms alone are empty without content and creativity. It is our imagination and ideas that give them meaning,” he said.
To prepare Nigeria’s creative sector for the AI age, NCAC has established the Council for Creative Tech Futures (CCTF), which will develop a roadmap for integrating creative industries with emerging technologies. The council will align its work with the national AI strategy from the Ministry of Digital Economy and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), while designing sector-specific policies for Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.
Asika identified more than 50 subsectors of the creative economy, including fashion, animation, architecture, cuisine, publishing, gaming, beauty, and literature, which remain underrepresented in Nigeria’s economic planning.
“The UK creative industry is valued at 125 billion pounds. By 2030, Nigeria can surpass that and create over 20 million jobs. Forecasts suggest our sector could reach 250 billion dollars by 2035, but only if we deliberately invest in and prioritise the creative economy,” he said.
He stressed that the creative economy goes beyond entertainment, encompassing identity, culture, innovation, and employment generation. Asika cited the recent acquisition of a stake in Mavin Records by a global label, valued between 100 and 200 million dollars, as evidence of Nigeria’s global potential.
“This demonstrates that African creativity can compete on the world stage. We must replicate this success across music, film, fashion, and other industries,” he added.
Asika emphasised that while telecommunications firms provide infrastructure, true economic value stems from content and culture. “Our narratives are our strength. For centuries Africa lost control of its story. Technology now allows us to reclaim it. Content and culture give us identity, and that is where Nigeria will truly win,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration between government, investors, and industry stakeholders, asserting that Nigeria’s youthful population and creative talent could drive exponential growth if fully harnessed.