The Cultural and Creative industry has been identified as an integral part of Nigeria’s strategic plan to look beyond petroleum as the nation’s major income-earner.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Hon. Emmanuel Jime, who disclosed this, said the twin-challenge of fast-tracking the nation’s industrial and diversifying the economy away from oil has become an economic emergency, especially against the backdrop of depleting oil reserves as well as the vagaries of the international oil market.

The NEPZA helmsman was speaking at the just concluded 10th Edition of African Arts and Craft Expo, organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), and held at the Arts and Crafts Village, besides Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

Speaking as a Special Guest at the well-attended occasion, Jime said the Arts and Craft Expo was coming at a very good time when the nation was exploring alternatives of to oil, and urged the country, especially the organisers of the Expo to give serious attention to the innovative template given by the Guest Speaker, Prof. Mabel T. Evwierrhoma of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, University of Abuja.

Speaking further, Jime, who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communications, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said: “As I have said on a number of occasions, diversifying our economy now is no longer a mere necessity – it’s an emergency. Not only are our oil reserves depleting, the vagaries of the international oil market make us too vulnerable. The outlook is even worse with our biggest buyers turning to alternative sources of energy.

“So, it’s time to look at our alternatives too. And the cultural and creative industry is one of the ways to go. It is the new goldmine. Both art and culture do not deplete, and with our cultural mosaic of over 250 languages, our artistic treasure is inexhaustible. I have no doubt that if we get it right, the National Council for Arts and Culture may have have to change its motto from: ‘Our Culture, Our Pride’ to ‘Our Culture, Our New Economy’.”

He added: “This was how our movie, Nollywood, industry started and has become such a big deal. No one gave it a chance, but by 2009, it had become a $3.6 billion sector. I have little doubt that with a creative focus on the Arts, and with the able superintendence of the Director-General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Cultural and Creative industry will soon make its historic mark.”

Assuring the National Council for Arts and Culture of maximum cooperation, Jime asked the NCAC Director-General to count NEPZA as an ally in his quest to give art its place of pride.

The managing director of NEPZA also reiterated his resolve to reposition the Authority and make its Free Trade Zones world-class so they would become the midwives of Nigeria’s long-delayed industrialisation.

The Special Guest of Honour at the occasion was the Executive Governor of Bayelsa state, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson while the Chairman of the occasion was the Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Omoeregie Ogbeide-Ihama.

Other dignitaries at the event included: the NEPAD DG, Princess Gloria Akobundu; the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Mr. Nnamdi Njamanze; the Director-General, Centre for Black and African Art and Civilization, Chief Ferdinand Anikwe.