Honourable Stanley Ogbuewu Unveils Ambitious Plans for Ebonyi’s Cultural, Creative Sector
Jerry Adesewo
On the sidelines of the National Review Conference on the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), recently held in Abuja by the National Council for Arts and Culture, Honourable Stanley Ogbuewu, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ebonyi State, shared his perspectives on various aspects of the creative environment in the state and Nigeria in an exclusive interview with OurNigeria.
The interview covered critical topics ranging from the review of NAFEST to the richness of Ebonyi’s cultural heritage and the challenges faced by the creative industry.
Speaking on the review of NAFEST, Commissioner Ogbuewu expressed satisfaction at the long-overdue review of NAFEST, emphasising its importance in injecting new ideas and innovations into the festival after 35 years without review. “The recent gathering is long overdue. A review of any document or project is expected to be done on a 5-year term. That is the standard! So, I believe that the review just conducted will breathe fresh life into NAFEST, setting the stage for a more vibrant cultural celebration.
The unbundling of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at the national level, which has become controversial, has left industry experts wondering whether President Bola Tinubu and his handlers know what they are doing. The Commissioner, using the yam and pounded yam analogy, expresses his view unequivocally when he says, “Culture is yam, while pounded yam is tourism. I believe that these two should remain integrated.”
When asked to pitch Ebonyi State in two minutes, the Honourable Ogbuewu provided a spirited response, highlighting the state’s rich cultural and mineral resources. He showcased the unique Salt Lake, from which the state derives its name, “The Salt Nation.
“He went ahead to reveal that, “beyond tourism, we have plans to commercialise the production of the Ebonyi salt, which is tastier and healthier than any other salts you can think of in Nigeria. My governor, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, is determined to position the Ebonyi Salt as a potential game-changer for the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
While he boastfully pointed out other tourism spots in the state, such as the unbelievable Amanchor Cave, which measures over 14 kilometres of underground walkway beneath the earth, rock formations and rice husk dunes in Afikpo North Local Government Area, the slave market and routes in Ezza North and South Local Government Area, the Unwana, Ozziza, and Ndibe sand beaches in Afikpo North LGA, Oferekpe Falls in Ikpo Local Government Area, Abakaliki Green Lake, located inside the Government House, and Okposi Salt Lake.
The Commissioner, however, identified the dearth of infrastructure as a major challenge in Ebonyi, militating against cultural tourism development.
“I am optimistic, however, that the recently built Ebonyi State Airport, among other infrastructural development plans of Governor Nwifuru, would help alleviate perennial challenges and turn Ebonyi State into a major tourist haven and, of course, a sought-after route to surrounding states, especially the Obudu Cattle Ranch,” he posited.
The Commissioner, who is himself a notable cultural ambassador for Ebonyi State, commended the First Lady of the State, Mrs. Mary-Maudlin Nwifuru’s culture-friendly initiative of emphasising the focus on youth engagement. He shared insights into the “Bring Back Our Culture” project, a collaborative project between the First Lady’s NGO and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism aimed at reconnecting the youth with their roots and preserving indigenous languages. While acknowledging the need for English for wider communication, he expressed a desire to promote indigenous languages within the state.
“As parents, we must do more than we are already doing to ensure that our children and wards speak their dialects. Our language is our identity, and we cannot throw it away while embracing western cultures and languages.”
Buttressing his earlier point on the need to engage youths, the Commissioner revealed plans to tap into funds earmarked for the creative industry, lamenting that Ebonyi had not yet accessed these opportunities. He underscored the state’s commitment to supporting indigenous creative entrepreneurs and associations, particularly in film production.
He outlined a strategy to develop indigenous producers and boost the local film industry, ultimately reducing unemployment and crime.
“I am determined, with the support of my governor, whom I can tell you is the most culture-friendly governor in Nigeria, to raise at least 20 indigenous producers in Ebonyi, who will produce around 60 movies every year, providing employment for Ebonyians.”
The Commissioner argued further that “the fund is there. We don’t need to go too far to look for it. The government is ready. My governor is ready. He is ready to support any association or indigenous creative entrepreneur who has what it takes and is ready to partner with the government. We are not going to give Ebonyi state money to people who will just collect the money and run away,” adding that his ministry will monitor the process and even help to create market access.
“And I tell you again, this will reduce unemployment and crime drastically because a single production could put food on the tables of a hundred and fifty people, from the writer, crew, and actor to the distributors,” he explained.
He, however, made an appeal to Ebonyi citizens to be patiently expectant and supportive of this administration when he said, “The immediate past governor, Engineer Dave Umahi, who is now the Minister of Works and Housing, invested heavily in the state, especially in infrastructural developments. I can assure you that Governor Nwifuru is going to do even more. He is going to build on these foundations and surpass them. That is his social contract with the people of this state,” he concluded.
