Over the years, the United Nations Development Programme has been supporting the government and people of Nigeria in addressing development challenges, through strengthening and building institutions that promote inclusive sustainable development and democratic governance. It is also working together with Nigeria in establishing its 2020 sustainable development goals(SDGs).

On Saturday the 25th of January, UNDP held its first series of development conversations with the Nigerian creatives tagged #CreateToDevelop. The launch which was held in Lagos was aimed at creating platforms for conversations that can constructively inform Nigeria’s development agenda that is people-driven. It also includes the creation of investment opportunities in the innovative and creative skills of young people.

The launch of #CreateToDevelop witnessed the likes of Sola Sobowale, Ajoke Silva, Alibaba Akpobome, Don Jazzy, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Toke Makinwa, Dakore Akande, Mercy Johnson, Chioma Akpotha, Adebola Williams, Yagazie ‘Gazmadu’ Eguare; Stephanie Busari, Hadiza Nyako Tukur, Edwin Okolo and the award-winning filmmaker, Joel Kachi-Benson.

UNDP Resident Representative to Nigeria, Mohamed Yahya with Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Adebola Williams, Don Jazzy, Toke Makinwa, Dakore Egbuson Akande, Joke Silva, Sola Sobowale and a cross-section of Nigerian creatives at the ‘CreateToDevelop’ session in Lagos on Saturday, 25 January, 2020

The UNDP Resident Representative to Nigeria, Mohamed Yahya, while speaking on the role of creatives in social reforms and behavioural change, noted that Nigeria’s creative sector has over the years played a critical role in influencing the growth of Africa’s arts and culture.

Mr Yahya explained that “while policies are crucial for reforms and development in any country, it is only by amplifying the psychology of progress through creative story-telling in every form that we can aspire to become a generation that believes in themselves to do better.”

With 10 years left to achieve the development goals, the start of the Decade of Action is an opportunity for UNDP to listen and learn from creatives on how they can use their influence to support the country’s development progress; and to reposition the perceptions of Nigeria among Nigerians and the rest of the world.

Veteran actresses Dakore Akande, Ajoke Silva and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, who has had extensive experience working with various international organizations offered useful insights on how the UNDP can rise above political bureaucracies in harnessing Nigeria’s vibrant and diverse creative potential towards the attainment of the SDGs.

According to Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, a renowned Actress and Activist, “The biggest challenge working with development organizations is the ability to stay on an issue or a cause long enough to establish impact. It is our hope that whatever areas/stories UNDP commits to will be consistent for longer-term engagement in order to ensure success and ability to measure the impact of the causes the organization chooses to support.”

UNDP is committed to co-creation of initiatives that will aid the Nigerian creative industry, in establishing avenues that can leverage better the art of telling representative stories, while supporting monetization of the industry for sustainability.

Creative arts transcend all barriers; gender, age, political, social, economic, geographical and religion, and presents a new frontier that can leapfrog Nigeria’s development trajectory. Over the next few months.

Nigeria is a notable contributor to Africa’s arts, culture and entertainment scenes. The Nigerian entertainment and music industry which emerged in the early 90s is the fastest growing in the world, competing closely with America and India for the global market share. The Nigeria film industry (Nollywood), employs more than 1 million people, making it the second-largest employer after agriculture.

In 2016 the Nigeria film industry contributed 2.3% (NGN239billion) to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with movies like Wives on Strike, The Wedding Party, The CEO, Ghana must go, A trip to Jamaica and Fifty.

The Nigerian film industry is regarded as a priority sector in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government with expected export revenue of $1billion by 2020.

UNDP is the United Nation’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It is available in over 170 countries and territories, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

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