The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has called on Nigerians to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity, describing it as a source of strength and unity.
Musawa gave the advice in commemoration of the 2024 World Culture Day.
The Day is set aside by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) every May 21, to raise awareness on the role of culture in sustainable socio-economic growth and development.
The minister, in a statement on Monday, emphasised the need to appreciate and promote Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.
She urged Nigerians to take pride in their culture and recognise its potential to drive economic development, social and mental well-being as well as national unity.
The minister noted that the country’s multiplicity of culture and ethnicity should be leveraged to promote dialogue, understanding and peaceful coe-xistence, rather than allowing differences to divide individuals.
She encouraged Nigerians to see their diversity as a source of strength and unity, rather than a source of conflict.
“The World Culture Day is an opportunity to remind and help us to understand the value of cultural diversity and the vital role it plays in ensuring peaceful co-existence as a vital tool for socio-economic growth and development.
“It is a day for deep reflection on where we are as a nation. Taking into cognisance that our dear country is characterised by multiplicity of culture and ethnicity.
“It behoves us to change the narrative on people who are culturally, ethnically and religiously different from us, in order to curb terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other negative vices as we forge ahead as one people with a common goal,” she said.
According to Musawa, the ministry will continue to work tirelessly with its agencies and stakeholders to promote Nigeria’s creative economy and boost the nation’s image, in line with its eight-point plan to make Nigeria, Africa’s creative capital by 2030.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, in line with its mandate to harness the potential of Nigeria’s creative economy for socio-economic empowerment, economic diversification and job creation, will continue to work tirelessly with our agencies and relevant stakeholders to boost the image of Nigeria.
“I call on all Nigerians to present our culture with deep pride and appreciation and encourage us to continue to see our diversity as our source of strength and unity from which we can build a progressive nation for us all.