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How Cultural Practices Boosts Nigeria's Economy




 Culture is defined as
the way of life of a people in a given region. This is not commonly  argued as it is clearly practical and a
reality. Different regions of the world have their customs and beliefs which
guides the way they live their lives. These  practices by different regions affects its
indigenes to the extent that they still practice these customs  afar from home. This clearly illustrates the
impact of culture on human lifestyle on a daily basis. We’ll be considering
Nigeria in this post as a case study.


An Igbo man who lives in the Northern Nigeria never forgets
the New Yam festival ceremony, the yoruba’s and Hausa’s never forgets their
annual cultural practices too. One of the most popular festivals in the
northern Nigeria is the Argungu Fishing festival. This is a cultural day where
people of a riverine region goes on a massive fishing spree and at the end of
the day he who catches the biggest fish in the river is rewarded. These practices
are always memorable to those it concerns. These practices have attracted
foreigners who have some real good taste for diverse cultures round the world.



The Nigerian government over the years have really
contributed largely into cultural arts and practices. This is because it  brings world attention to the country and not just
that,  it also contributes to different
forms of governmental fund raising strategies. The government secures areas
where there are historical monuments as well. This is because of the value
attached to these monuments. The stand culture has in Nigeria cannot be over
emphasized. Well then we’ll see how the Nigerian economy has been a beneficiary
of these cultural practices and marketing activities round the nation which is
in line with different cultures. We’ll be considering some popular festivals
and cultural ceremonies that take place in Nigeria also.



Below are some ways the Economy of Nigeria benefits from Her
diverse cultures;


1.       Traditional Attire Marketing:

The three basic tribes in Nigeria
i.e Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba has different modes of dressing that best describes
them. Whenever you see the Agbada  it
depicts Yoruba people, the red cap and beads on wrist with Ofor stick speaks of
the Igbo tribe.  when you see someone
with a Janlabia jumper clothing with a well round-designed cap, the Hausa tribe
comes to your mind. We could keep bringing
more signs via clothing that represents the three basic tribes in
Nigeria.


Now down to the marketing circle in
this context. Since the people value their diverse cultures, there is a need to
keep in existence their cultural values. At this point  some fabric companies pops up into production
of cultural attires to satisfy the needs of the people for their love for
culture and in return make profits. Now the fabric marketers at a national
level contribute a lot to the economy of the nation as their productions are
also exported abroad to foreign customers who buy these attire and wear them in
other countries round the world. Culture which began within a nation has become
a means of income for its nation because the respect for it was not thrown
away.


2.       Tourism and  Cultural Arts:

Ancient sculptures and arts like
terra-cotta sculptures,Benin artifacts, the Olumo Rock and others are historic monuments that
attract foreigners to come and tour round the regions where they are situated. These
foreigners  constant visits attracts the
attention of investors from within the country and abroad. Some build resorts
to accommodate tourists who pay in return for the services. Lots of business
opportunities are initiated as a result of preservation of culture.


When the investors start up their
different businesses in regions where tourism has a high traffic, the private
sector of the Nigerian economy grows more by diversification and in return
boost the economy at large as lots of profits are being made. groups like union
of artists are being initiated. It is a platform for Nigerians who can draw and
paint. This is for them to be able to express their artistic skills. In this
way, they paint some cultural artifacts and have artistic work display
workshops. This also attracts foreign art oriented bodies who may have interest
in those work pieces. Other artistic platforms that boost businesses in the
country is the theatre arts where cultures are acted on stage and the audience
enjoy some scenes that physically describes some cultures.


Historians home and abroad troop to
the theatre halls to have a knowledge of some Nigerian culture. On this
platforms, writers like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Cyprine Ekwensi,  Chimamanda Adichie displays the contents of
their books. On some memorable days of cultures, some writes ups with has a
historic link with some regions are being acted live on stage. All these
entertaining scenarios boost economy as those shows are not for free. The writers
make some money for their works, the owners of cinemas gets their cut too
likewise the art foundations that hosts such shows. Now over to the government.
All these groups are being governed
by a governmental policies
for regulation which means that the
government has a benefit from all these.


3.       Calabar Carnival:

This is one of the most popular
culture display activity in Southern Nigeria on an annual basis. This is a day
where different ethnic groups across the nation gather in one accord to display
their custom in an entertaining manner to a very large audience of home-based
and abroad. This festival boost the economy of the cross-river state of Nigeria
as marketers round the state make lots of profits. Investors whose services
will be of relevance emerge for such a seasonal occasion to render their quota in
return for profit. At the end of the whole festival, the state records an
increment in economy value which is good for the nation at large. The state has
a quota to give to the federal government according to their constitutional
protocols that guides  fund raising from state
government to federal government level.




From all indication, preservation
of  culture and its practices is of great
relevance and profit to countries that upholds them in a way of growing their economy
and as well increasing their world presence in different art renditions that
would bring home some pride.  These points
above were researched based on the impact of culture within Nigeria.

I would like to know your thoughts
on this topic. Feel
free to share other ways that culture affects a nation’s economy growth.  Use the comment box below to share your
views.

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