The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), United Kingdom, in a move designed to transform Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries and elevate its talents on the global stage. The collaboration is set to empower Nigerian artists, cultural practitioners, and creative entrepreneurs by fostering innovation, enhancing skills development, and creating international exposure opportunities. It aligns with the NCAC’s broader mandate to drive economic growth and position Nigeria as a center of cultural excellence.
Through this partnership, the NCAC and UCA aim to strengthen Nigeria’s creative education infrastructure by supporting the development of National Centres of Excellence. This will involve providing technical expertise and revising curricula to better equip creatives for the demands of the global market. The initiative also includes a creative talent exchange programme, which will facilitate cross-border collaborations and global showcases of Nigerian artistry and design. Additionally, the partnership will support capacity building by leveraging NCAC’s Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) hub network and the Federal Ministry’s CLAP platform to train and upskill creatives and cultural leaders across the country.
The collaboration is also geared toward enhancing Nigeria’s visibility on prestigious global platforms through UCA’s international networks, while engaging in joint research projects that focus on the sustainability and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s creative economy. These efforts are expected to align Nigeria’s creative sector with international standards and best practices.
In a significant development, NCAC has become the first global partner to join UCA’s Creative and Cultural Industries Leaders Network, a prestigious alliance that includes global industry leaders such as Apple, Warner Brothers, and the British Film Commission. This landmark inclusion is expected to amplify Nigeria’s voice in global creative discourse and unlock new partnerships and opportunities for the country’s cultural sector.
Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Obi Asika, Director-General of NCAC, described the development as a major milestone in the Council’s mission to transform the Nigerian creative ecosystem. He noted that the collaboration with a world-class institution like UCA would help deliver the vision of establishing National Centres of Excellence, unlock local and international opportunities for Nigerian talent, and ensure the country’s creatives are globally competitive. He emphasized that the focus of the partnership is on building infrastructure, fostering innovation, and catalyzing sustainable growth, thereby positioning Nigeria as a leader in the global creative economy.
Prof. Lyndsay Duthie, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCA, echoed this sentiment, stating that NCAC’s ambitious goals align seamlessly with the university’s vision. She expressed optimism that the joint efforts would yield groundbreaking initiatives capable of empowering the next generation of Nigerian creative and cultural industry leaders.
The partnership also supports the Nigerian government’s commitment to leveraging arts, culture, and creativity as engines of job creation, education, and soft-power diplomacy. It resonates strongly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies the creative industries as a key pillar of national development and economic diversification.
NCAC and UCA are expected to begin implementation of joint programmes immediately, including innovation labs, talent showcases, and workshops with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and youth empowerment. The partnership represents a bold step toward unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s creative economy and securing a prominent place for the nation on the world’s cultural map.