By PATRICIA AMOGU

Nigeria is set to host its maiden Conference on Cultural Diplomacy aimed at positioning culture as a key tool for diplomacy, conflict prevention, social cohesion and sustainable development.

The conference, themed “Building Nations Through Cultural Diplomacy,” is scheduled to hold from Jan. 27 to Jan. 28, 2026, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Convener of the conference, Amb. Zainab Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mohammed said the event represents Nigeria’s first high-level platform dedicated to cultural diplomacy, responding to the growing recognition of culture as an underutilised instrument for diplomacy and development.

She said the conference is organised by Zeelee Consult Limited in collaboration with the NIIA and will bring together policymakers, diplomats, cultural practitioners, traditional rulers, academics, private sector leaders and development partners from Africa and beyond.

According to her, cultural diplomacy provides countries with an avenue to strengthen national identity, project soft power, promote mutual understanding and harness the economic potential of creative and cultural industries.

Mohammed said Africa is at a critical stage where its cultural heritage and diversity can be strategically leveraged to support regional integration, inclusive growth and stronger global engagement.

She said the conference would serve as a multi-stakeholder platform for policy dialogue, shared learning and strategic collaboration in the cultural and diplomatic space

She said key discussion areas include the role of cultural diplomacy in promoting peace and unity, safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage, advancing creative industries and cultural tourism, and strengthening Africa’s global cultural presence.

According to her, the programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, policy dialogues, cultural exhibitions and performances, interactive sessions and networking engagements.

Mohammed said expected outcomes include policy recommendations to strengthen cultural diplomacy frameworks in Africa, enhanced institutional collaboration, increased advocacy for heritage preservation and the adoption of a conference communiqué.

She added that the maiden conference was a major step toward placing culture at the centre of Nigeria’s and Africa’s diplomatic and development agenda.

She called on policymakers, traditional rulers, stakeholders, government institutions and the public to engage with the initiative as Nigeria leads continental discourse on cultural diplomacy. (NAN)

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