Written by Dr. Patrick I. Okpah

1. DR. PATRICK I. OKPAH, OON
President,Nigerian Arts Group
(Oct. 22, 2016)
AT UNIPORT
ARTS, CULTURE AND TOURISM AS
VEHICLES FOR WEALTH-CREATION

2. DEFINITION OF TERMS
The Arts: A generic word for various forms such as visual
art, music, theatre, literature, etc, when you think of them
as a group. These are broadly classified as Visual Art
(Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography, e.t.c), Literary
Arts (Poems, Prose, Literature, e.t.c) and Performing Art
( Dance, Drama, Music, Theatre, Films / Movies, Cinema,
e.t.c)
Culture: The customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social
organization of a particular country or group.

3. DEFINITION OF TERMS (CONTD.)
Tourism: The business activities connected with the
temporary movement of individuals or groups within or
outside a state or nation for recreation, holiday, health,
study, religion, conference or sports reasons. Tourists are
often interested in discovering places, sites and things that
offer attractions, social and psychological comfort.
Wealth: A large amount of something - tangible and
intangible; talent, information, experience, property, money
et.c)

4. STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY / SECTOR IN
NIGERIA
PUBLIC SECTOR (Government Ministry & Parastatals that drive the Industry)
Some Parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture:
 CBAAC (Centre for Black African Arts and Culture)
 NCMM (National Commission for Museums and Movement)
 NCAC (National Council for Arts and Culture)
 NGA (National Gallery of Art)
 NICO (National Institute for Cultural Orientation)
 NOA (National Orientation Agency)
 NIHOTOUR (Nigerian Institute for Hospitality and Tourism)
 NT (National Theatre)
 NTN (National Troupe of Nigeria)
 NTDC (Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation)
NB: Others (Information-related) are NTA, FRCN, NBC, VOA, NAN, etc.

5. PRIVATE SECTOR (Some Organizations or
Initiatives that contribute to the Industry /
Sector)
Society for Nigerian Artists (SNA)
Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN)
Copyright Society of Nigeria (CSN)
Community for Relevant Art (CORA)
 Nigerian Arts Group (NAG)
et.c

6. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INDUSTRY (ARTS,
CULTURE AND TOURISM) TO NIGERIA.
A major employer of labour (over one hundred types of jobs
available)
A purveyor of culture (the totality of the cultural components of
Nigeria can be transported through the industry)
“Americanisation” of the world was achieved especially through
Hollywood
It plays very important role in education and human resource
development. (Audio visual aids and documentary films now play
significant role in teaching and knowledge impartation, even for
children and churches)
It serves as tool for national mobilization, unity, social / political
mobilization and information. (e.g. about government policies
and ideologies using music, plays, banners, posters and other print
media materials to convey a particular cause or message).

7. CONTD.
It serves entertainment and therapeutic purposes (comedy,
movies are for entertainment and relaxation)
It serves as tool and store for research findings and historic events.
It is a major income earner (including foreign exchange for
Nigeria).
It helps to positively project Nigeria’s Image.
The Culture sector creates a NIGHT LIFE income earning model
for Nigeria (where Nigerian films, food, cinema, theatre, music,
e.t.c can operate / work for 24 hours of the day, as against “8-
5p.m” work hours of other industries / sectors).

8. An Entrepreneur may be defined as "a person who is
able to look at the environment, identify
opportunities to improve the environment, marshal
resources, and implement action to maximize those
opportunities".
This implies that the entrepreneur should be able to identify
that particular environmental opportunity he wishes to take
advantage of, before embarking on the venture. These
opportunities are varied.

9. BOOTSTRAPPING
The highlighting of these opportunities is however, beyond
the scope of this paper. The paper is designed to help the
'new' entrepreneur in the Arts, Culture and Tourism
Industry to start business and survive the highly volatile
business environment with very limited funds.
Believe it or not, it is quite possible to start a new business
and make it succeed with little or very limited funds to begin
with. In America, this is known as BOOTSTRAPPING and
many successful American companies were started this way.
What is the secret?

10. Get operational quickly. Target a small market for a
start, using a "copy cat" idea that is already doing well in that
market. This saves market research costs and staves off
competition from large, established companies.
We should not believe that the economy should create jobs
for us when we have ALL its takes to start and maintain an
entrepreneurial Venture and SUCCEED at it.

11.  Look for quick break-even, cash-generating projects.
 be fLexibLe
 offer high vaLue goods/services that can sustain direct
personaL seLLing.
 ensure your goods/services wiLL meet a market need
 speed decision-making and process by a factor of 4
 think horizontaL
 promote intrapreneuriaL growth
 eLiminate the middLe management messenger
 do not be information iLLiterate
 concentrate on the customer
 fight bureaucracy (excessive protocoLs)
 act

12. CONCLUSION
The dearth of increasing number of successful
entrepreneurial ventures in our dear country, Nigeria, calls
for a critical challenge to us all. We should seek to harness
the potentials in each of us towards the actualization of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), chief amongst
which is the issue of POVERTY
ALLEVIATION/ERADICATION.
My Testimony and Experiences
Thanks for listening
Q&A
 Everything begins with belief. It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do a lot. Do what you can. "Do
not despise little things: a lantern can do what the sun can never do - shine at night".
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE... AND EXCEL!