The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr Obi Asika, has called for the digitisation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage to secure the country’s place in the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
Speaking at a fireside chat during the GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference in Lagos on Thursday, Asika said Nigeria’s historical and cultural assets were critical for AI development and the growth of the creative economy.
He noted that ancient palaces across Northern Nigeria hold centuries-old manuscripts and inscriptions in Hausa, Kanuri and Fulfulde, which document science, mathematics, medicine, technology, and governance.
“We must transcribe and digitise these archives. They are repositories of innovation. If AI is not trained with our culture, Nigeria will be missing globally,” Asika said.
He warned that failure to digitise Nigeria’s languages and cultural records could lead to African knowledge being excluded from global AI systems, further deepening marginalisation in the digital era.
To prepare Nigeria’s creative sector for the AI age, Asika disclosed that the NCAC had set up the Council for Creative Tech Futures (CCTF) to develop a roadmap for the cultural and creative industries. The council, he said, would align with the national AI strategy of the Ministry of Digital Economy and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), while also designing sector-specific policies.
Asika identified more than 50 subsectors of the creative economy including fashion, gaming, literature, architecture, cuisine, publishing, animation and beautythat remain underrepresented in Nigeria’s economic planning.
“The UK creative industry is worth £125 billion. By 2030, Nigeria can surpass that, creating over 20 million jobs. Some forecasts place our sector at $250 billion by 2035, but only if we deliberately invest and prioritise the creative economy as a growth driver,” he said.
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He stressed that the creative economy went beyond entertainment, covering culture, identity, innovation and job creation. He cited the acquisition of a stake in Mavin Records by a global music label, valued between $100 million and $200 million, as proof of the global potential of Nigerian creativity.
“This shows African creativity can compete globally. We must replicate such success across music, film, fashion and other industries,” he added.
Asika further noted that while telecommunications companies provided infrastructure, real value was derived from content and culture.
“Our narratives are our strength. For centuries, Africa lost control of its story. Technology now gives us a chance to reclaim it. Content and culture give us identity, and that is where Nigeria will truly win,” he said.
He urged stronger collaboration between government, investors and industry stakeholders, stressing that Nigeria’s youthful population and abundant creativity could drive exponential growth if fully harnessed.
