The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Biodun Ajiboye, says the Federal Government plans to launch a global cultural digital platform for promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage globally.

Mr Ajiboye, who said this in a statement on Thursday, added that the project was an  NICO initiative to promote cultural diplomacy and boost the national economy.

According to him, the digital platform DuduPlugs is designed to increase international exposure to Nigeria’s cultural assets and bolster the nation’s creative economy, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

He said the project, which is being developed in partnership with an American company, ACI Teksystem, had received the approval of the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

According to Mr Ajiboye, ‘DuduPlugs’ will provide comprehensive access to Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through the internet and social media to attract global acceptance. He said the exposure would attract foreign exchange earnings and provoke global acceptance, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s economy and image among nations.

“DuduPlugs is designed to function like a vast social media platform, capable of accommodating 100-200 million visitors per day. It will feature a wide array of Nigerian culture, including dress culture, films, music, indigenous languages, dance, and cuisine.

“This platform can tap into the over 700-800 million global enthusiasts of Nigerian culture, particularly, but certainly not exclusively, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo cultures.

“Research indicates that this platform could generate substantial revenue for the Nigerian economy and increase the nation’s GDP, potentially contributing upwards to 20 billion dollars per annum.

“In preparation for the launch of ‘DuduPlugs’, a global convention, tagged ‘Pennsylvania 2025’, has been scheduled to bring together international stakeholders from other countries including Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, and Argentina,” he said.

He added that relevant stakeholders involved in the project were scheduled to hold preliminary meetings before Mr Tinubu inaugurated the digital platform.

(NAN)