The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), with approval from the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE), has launched the Council for Creative Technology Futures (CCTF), a pioneering national initiative aimed at integrating cutting-edge technology into Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.
Announced on Monday, August 11, 2025, the CCTF is designed to position Nigeria as a global leader where culture meets innovation. It will provide a strategic policy and implementation framework for harnessing emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Web3, and blockchain across more than 49 creative industry sectors.
“With this council, we are merging culture and code, storytelling and smart contracts, heritage and innovation,” said Obi Asika, Director General of NCAC. “We are not just reacting to global change—we are leading it from Africa.”
The council’s core mandates include guiding the creative industries into a digitally empowered future to drive job creation, equipping creators with global tools and market access, and enhancing Nigeria’s standing as a cultural and technological powerhouse. It will also deliver the National Creative-Tech Framework and Roadmap (2025–2030), aligning with the National AI Strategy, Executive Order 005, the Digital Economy Policy (2020–2030), and other NCAC-led initiatives such as ICE Hubs and Discover Naija.
In addition to working with NCAC’s sister agencies in culture and tourism, the CCTF will build strategic partnerships with global institutions including the British Council, University for the Creative Arts (UK), UNESCO, Google, Meta, African Development Bank (AfDB), GIZ, the European Union, Netflix, and other technology and development partners. These collaborations will mobilize investment, technical expertise, and global exposure for Nigeria’s creative-tech future.
Membership of the council is pro bono, underscoring a national service ethos. The inaugural members include industry leaders such as Charles Emembolu (Chairman), Misan Harriman, Dayo Elegbe, Bizzle Oshikoya, Kemi Awodein, Osas Peter, Malik Afegbua, Sandra Oyewole, Judith Okonkwo, Dr. Dahiru Sani, and Dr. Chinedu Odoala.
“This launch is a milestone,” Asika added. “We are building the foundation for Nigeria’s creative future—where our stories, music, art, and innovation are protected, monetized, and celebrated globally.”
The CCTF is expected to unlock millions of jobs, increase intellectual property exports, attract venture capital, and empower a new generation of creators, technologists, and entrepreneurs.