Prof. Barclays Ayakoroma, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Africa Toru-Orua (UAT), Bayelsa, has advocated innovative approach to branding Nigeria’s arts and culture products for increased export.

In a statement on Tuesday by his media aide,  Mr Tonye Yemolegha, the  acting VC said that increased export of such products would shore up earnings and  gross domestic product.

Ayakoroma said that the increase  could be achieved through cultural rejuvenation and deliberate generational transfer of cultural talents.

According to him, the increase can also be achieved through adequate investment by governments to fully harness abundant  cultural tourism potential.

He said that the Annang Festival of Arts and Culture (AFAC), recently held in the state, along with similar programmes,  needed holistic transformation for global competitiveness.

Ayakoroma noted that reinventing culture as a gateway to national development also entailed  introduction of entrepreneurial components that would drive dependency for sustenance and expansion of the culture and arts sector.

He said that the cultural policy of any country would remain a strong binding factor that would enhance nationalism and unity.

He called for continuous review of Nigeria’s cultural policy which, he noted, was signed in August 1988 by the then Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

“Culture is a vital component of national development as it is a tool for driving economic growth, social cohesion, peaceful-co-existence as well as political stability.

“We must, therefore, explore every channel to tap from it,” Ayakoroma said. (NAN)