Nigeria Moves to Adopt Soft Power Diplomacy to Promote Culture, Deepen Understanding of Government Policies
By Our Correspondent
The Federal Government has announced plans to develop a soft power diplomacy model that will leverage Nigeria’s music, entertainment, tourism and cultural heritage to promote national interests and deepen citizens’ understanding of government policies at home and in the diaspora.
The initiative, being championed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is aimed at harnessing Nigeria’s rich cultural resources and creative industry to strengthen the country’s international image and make government policies more impactful on the daily lives of Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, when he received the leadership of the Ileya Omo Okun Generational Foundation (IOOGF), a cultural heritage platform, during a courtesy visit to his office.
- Advertisement -
Enikanolaiye explained that culture had become a critical component of modern diplomacy through what is known as soft power diplomacy, which seeks to influence people through cultural appeal rather than coercive or forceful means.
According to him, culture encompasses the total way of life of a people and provides Nigeria with enormous opportunities to project its identity and strengthen its global presence.
“We want to project our invaluable culture like music, food, dress code, history, artefacts, and creative industry, among others. Nigeria has enormous talents or resources in this area. We are determined to harness and promote them to the outside world. It is one area we want to do more,” he said.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s creative industry was largely driven by hardworking and talented individuals who often received little or no government support.
He, however, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was determined to reposition the sector and create opportunities for Nigerian talents to thrive locally and internationally.
Enikanolaiye disclosed that preparations were ongoing for CANTEX, an upcoming cultural festival in Lagos, and encouraged the visiting delegation to participate in the initiative.
He also condemned piracy and the inadequate protection of intellectual property in the creative industry, stressing the need to protect the rights of artists and other creative professionals.
The minister reaffirmed his longstanding advocacy for intellectual property protection, insisting that individuals should be allowed to reap the benefits of their creativity and hard work.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Ileya Omo Okun Festival 2026, Mr. Richard Akefe, explained the objectives of the festival, which is designed to celebrate and promote Okun cultural heritage.
Akefe listed the festival’s major attractions to include Iya ni Wura, a recognition of motherhood; the Ogo Okun Trailblazer Award; Omidan Oge beauty pageant; the Okun Super Cooking Competition; and Zeetia Cares, an empowerment programme.
He said the activities were designed to celebrate cultural values, recognise outstanding contributions, promote talent and support community development.
The convener of the Ileya Omo Okun Festival, Yeye Omoleye Adebanji Aiyelabowo, who also serves as the project coordinator, said her vision was to project Okun culture to the world and develop the Okun identity into a globally recognised brand.
She congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing him as a source of pride to his kinsmen and the country at large.
The visit underscored the potential for collaboration between government institutions and cultural organisations in promoting Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy, supporting the creative economy and showcasing the country’s diverse heritage to the international community.
The statement was signed by Richard Elesho, Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper October 16th, 2026
