Culture

ACF Launches CultureFest to Boost Northern Nigeria’s Economy

Published

1 year ago

September 11, 2025

ACF launches CultureFest to boost Northern Nigeria’s economy, promote peace, and showcase cultural heritage through tourism and enterprise

ACF launches CultureFest in a bold move to redefine its role and use culture as a catalyst for Northern Nigeria’s development. The Arewa Consultative Forum announced the initiative to promote heritage, boost tourism, create jobs, and foster unity in the region.

Also read: Arewa International Film Festival Gets FG Backing, Boosts Youth

The event, driven by TruNorth under the leadership of media and tourism advocate Aisha Garba, will begin with a “Tourism for Security Summit” in Abuja on October 9.

The summit will bring together policymakers, investors, cultural leaders, and security experts to explore how cultural platforms can serve as non-kinetic tools for peacebuilding.

Garba described CultureFest as more than a festival. “It is economic, social, and security-related. It will attract visitors, create jobs, build tolerance, and strengthen pride in our identity,” she said.

The initiative enjoys strong federal backing, with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy serving as co-host. According to Garba, this partnership underscores CultureFest as a national priority, not just an ACF project.

Beyond the Abuja summit, a calendar of events will unfold across multiple states, featuring exhibitions, food and fashion showcases, music and arts festivals, and adventure tourism.

The aim is to position Northern Nigeria as a premier cultural and tourism destination, similar to global festivals like Coachella or the Marrakech Festival.

Garba noted that the ripple effect on the economy would be significant—hotels filled, artisans and vendors making sales, jobs for stagehands, security staff, ushers, and performers—all while promoting integration among Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Tiv, Nupe, Jukun, and other groups.

“CultureFest is not just an event; it’s a movement,” she stressed. “In five years, I see a North that is confident, creative, and connected, where culture drives enterprise and strengthens security.”

TruNorth, she explained, is building ecosystems that link tourism, agriculture, technology, and creative industries. Its broader mission is to transform culture into commerce, identity into opportunity, and community into collective progress.

Garba, whose passion for culture stems from firsthand experiences of Durbar in Jigawa and desert tourism in Yobe, emphasized that Northern Nigeria’s heritage is an untapped resource. She sees CultureFest as the launchpad to amplify authentic voices, celebrate diversity, and inspire development.

Also read: The Royal Oath: Africana experience live 2025 reaffirms Africa’s rich fashion heritage

Under the leadership of Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, the ACF now hopes to be remembered not only as a political forum but as a cultural catalyst for transformation.

Up Next

FTAN Demands Broader Input in Nigeria’s Tourism Policy Review

Don't Miss

Tara Fela-Durotoye Receives Prestigious ROI Award

Click to comment

Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”