Culture and Heritage

Nigeria To Generate Over $5b In Annual World Orisa Congress Project – NICO


The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has projected a revenue of over $5b from the proposed Annual World Orisa Congress project which would attract over 500 million people across the globe and boost investment opportunities for the country.

The Executive Secretary, NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye who disclosed this on Thursday stated that the project which serves as another means of preserving Nigeria’s culture is also necessitated by the exigency of pushing up Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), thereby generating revenue for the government to improve the living standard of Nigerians as promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his Renewed Hope Agenda.

Ajiboye explained that while Nigeria remains in dire need of creating ways and means of generating revenue and reflating the economy, one of the solutions to this challenge is through increased foreign exchange earnings adding that globally, cultural outreach programmes in terms of cultural and ancestral convergence are known to be money generating ventures with Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, India and China being front runners in bringing global audiences to their countries at periodic times.

“Nigeria at this time is left with little or no choice than to tap into the rich cultural opportunities to become economically sustainable as a nation.

“This project which is also aimed at preserving and promoting Nigeria’s cultural history and heritage to the world is estimated to generate USD 5-6 billion with Nigeria playing host to over one million visitors”.

Ajiboye emphasized that the actualization of the World Orisa Congress project  has become necessary following the yearnings of Africans in the Diaspora who were taken from Nigeria into slavery over 500 years ago to connect back to their roots.

He noted that the World Orisa Congress is an affirmation of the coalescence of cultural identity with Africans in the Diaspora, an ultimate spiritual connection to all of us as a people with a common goal and destiny adding that there are about 500 million people across the globe that are related to the traditional religion of the African people and as Devotees of different deities, they are yearning to return home.

“It is therefore the Institutes desire to tap into the vast treasure strove of these 500 million people of Orisa descents from Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and other Caribbean countries to converge in their ancestral home/roots regularly. In Brazil alone, there are over 89 million people who are ready to key into this vision.

“Nigeria stands to benefit enhanced cross-cultural understanding and empathy, record an increase in global co-operation and rapprochement, tap into the huge revenue stream of almost 1 million visitors annually on a sustainable basis which is devolved into increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) astronomically, and establish global creativity, innovation and progress, create sustenance of traditional rituals, sacred practices, traditional craftsmanship, oral traditions and festive events.”

Ajiboye noted that the congress will also provide a platform for sharing knowledge, experience and best practices in promoting and preserving Orisa heritage emphasizing that the convergence will be of immense benefit as it will bring about cultural exchange and enrichment, economic benefits through tourism and cultural trade, promotion of global understanding and peace, and the preservation of Orisa heritage for future generations.

Meanwhile, Ajiboye expressed the readiness of relevant agencies and stakeholders across the globe to ensure the success of the project.

“So far, the Diaspora in the United States of America, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and other Caribbean countries are ready materials and human resource for this project.

“Through extensive collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Diaspora Commission, we will energize global participation at the World Orisa Congress which shall be a focal point of interaction via ceremonial obeisance, social practices, festivals, traditional craftsmanship and knowledge concerning nature and the universe.”. He stated.

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