The Nigerian leadership’s perception of the creative sector is confined to the film and music industries, overlooking its wider potential for economic growth and societal development.

Professional dancer and choreographer, Kafayat Shafau, commonly known as Kaffy, strongly recommends that the government at all levels further investigate the creative industry as a means of generating wealth.

During a recent interview with NAN, the dancer emphasized the importance of expanding and enhancing other creative industry sectors, such as dance and fashion, to maximize their economic potential.

As per Kaffy, who holds the world record for the longest dance party achieved in 2006, Nigeria’s creative economy policy has primarily centered around the film and music industries.

“Other areas like dance exist. Dance is a major export. We can monetise dance from the educational system, the health sector, the advertising sector, and more,” she said.

“From the health sector, I have dancers who work as fitness trainers and physiotherapists, deriving benefits from it. For people who have cognitive disorders, dance is also recommended.

“Dance is still the reason we are embracing music. Dance is used in film production. Dance is sitting at the centre of all industries.”

Kaffy urged the government to augment its financial allocation for the creative sector and establish a conducive environment that fosters the success of its practitioners.

“Government has the power to support us, make policies that will make institutions be forced to make a quota of their corporate social responsibility channelled toward the creative industry,” she said.

The educational standards in Nigeria are declining, and the government could potentially utilize dance as a pedagogical tool to enhance comprehension among schoolchildren.

“These kids are just going to school to mark attendance and the world has changed from the archaic old system. Many of us are not doing what we studied in schools, the educational system should be revamped to what we need in society,” she added.

“Dance, an aspect of the creative industry, is known to help children comprehend better. This should be in our curriculum.”

The creative sector encompasses a diverse array of economic activities that leverage and generate knowledge and information.

It could encompass a wide range of creative industries, including visual arts, crafts, design, fashion, film, music, theater, publishing, research and development, software development, gaming, television, radio, advertising, and architecture.