Chairman SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has called for increased investment, collaboration and professionalisation of Nigeria’s creative industry, saying the country’s indigenous knowledge can be transformed into a sustainable source of innovation, economic value and opportunities for future generations.
Afolabi made the call at the 39th International Conference and 40th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), held at Lead City University, Ibadan, where he served as Chairman of the Occasion.
The conference, which opened on August 19, 2026, was themed, “African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Performance, Film and Sustainable Futures”.
Afolabi, who was represented at the event by the Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, Olumuyiwa Akande, said Nigeria’s indigenous knowledge, preserved through generations via storytelling, music, dance, drama, festivals, proverbs and other cultural expressions, remained a significant but underutilised national asset.
He said theatre and film had important roles to play in preserving the country’s cultural heritage while repositioning it for contemporary audiences.
“The real opportunity before us is to transform indigenous knowledge into contemporary cultural and economic value”, he said.
Afolabi challenged creative professionals, scholars, government, businesses and cultural institutions to explore how indigenous stories could inspire globally competitive theatre productions and films.
He also urged stakeholders to deploy technology to document indigenous knowledge that has traditionally been passed down largely through oral transmission.
According to him, Nigeria’s creative industry has the potential to contribute significantly to economic development, employment generation, tourism, cultural diplomacy and the country’s global reputation.
He cited the international success of African music as evidence of what could be achieved when local creativity was professionally developed and packaged for global audiences.
Afolabi, however, noted that achieving similar global influence in theatre, film and indigenous cultural expressions would require sustained investment, professional standards, collaboration and a deliberate commitment to quality.
He called for stronger partnerships among government, the private sector, academia, creative professionals and cultural institutions, stressing that businesses could contribute beyond sponsorship through investment, technology, capacity building and platforms that would enable creative entrepreneurs to grow.
He urged participants to ensure that the conference produced practical ideas, partnerships and recommendations capable of influencing policy and strengthening Nigeria’s creative ecosystem.
“Let this conference be a bridge between our rich cultural past and the sustainable future we desire”, he said.
Afolabi said indigenous knowledge should not be viewed merely as a record of Africa’s past, but as a resource capable of shaping its future.
He further stressed the importance of authenticity and responsible storytelling, urging African creatives to tell their stories in their own voices while avoiding stereotypes.
He said Africa’s diversity, ingenuity and cultural richness should be presented confidently to global audiences.
At the event, Afolabi also received the Grand Excellence in Leadership Award in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the development of the creative industry.