Mr Emmanuel Adekoya, a culture
expert on Monday urged Nigerians to explore opportunities in the cultural
industry and patronise locally made products to boost the country’s economy.
Adekoya
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that culture was dynamic and
could also help the country out of the present economic recession.
He
stressed that the country stood a great chance of surviving the current
economic meltdown if it could focus more on boosting production and exportation
of indigenous products.
He said
that the nation could look inward and do things in the cultural way, adding
that this could the country to be self sustaining.
“You can
get people like weavers, tie and dye experts, and other local experts in fabric
making to produce for schools, which can be a starting point.
“You can
begin to look at those items we import from abroad which we can be produce
locally and begin to do them here.
“Not only
that, we must patronise the local producers by so doing, our creative industry
will blossom.
“When we
begin to do this, you will find out that the quest for FOREX will reduce and
automatically our naira will begin to appreciate,’’ he said.
On selling
Nigerian’s culture to other countries, he said that it would be easy only if
the country valued, appreciates, and placed high premium on its rich cultural
heritage.
He said
that it would be important for the country to have a good cultural framework
which could be used as `soft sell’ diplomacy to reach out to international
communities.
“Nigeria
has cultural centres abroad, which project the rich diverse cultures that we
have in Nigeria and those countries normally accept them.
“And when
you are talking about culture, you are talking about our indigenous music, our
cuisines, hair styles, body decorations.
“Those
things are unique to the country as a whole but when it goes abroad, those
people getting in touch with the culture will begin to imbibe and embrace it,’’
he said.
Adekoya
said that when people in other countries started to imbibe Nigerian culture,
which includes music, clothes, food, the naira would be getting stronger.
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