Written by SekiZheemKulture Marketplace has unveiled plans to develop a $5 billion cultural economy in the Niger Delta, with a target of connecting 500,000 culturepreneurs to broader markets through the region’s cultural heritage, festivals, traditional crafts and creative industries.
The initiative aims to bring together cultural practitioners across 50 tribes and a network of 500 festivals, while showcasing five million wetland heritage commodities. Organisers clarified that the figures represent long-term targets and revenue ambitions, rather than revenue already generated or investment secured.
The programme also proposes a 50-day cultural activation running between November and January, connecting festivals, theatre productions, exhibitions and heritage experiences with commercial opportunities across the Niger Delta’s nine states.
Chief Executive Officer of SekiZheemKulture Marketplace, Yibo Koko, said the initiative was designed to help people who preserve and promote the region’s cultural heritage earn income from their skills, knowledge and creative work.
“Our culture carries knowledge, creativity and enterprise potential. Through SekiZheemKulture Marketplace, we want the energy of our festivals and theatre to create lasting opportunities for the people behind them,” Koko said.
The marketplace is expected to feature a range of cultural products, including textiles, fashion, beadwork, carvings, food products and collectibles. It will seek to connect artisans and producers with customers within Nigeria, across the diaspora and in international markets.
Beyond product promotion, the initiative plans to support participants in improving product presentation, branding, pricing and digital marketing. These capabilities are intended to help cultural entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses and continue generating income beyond individual festivals and cultural events.
By combining cultural heritage with commercial activities, SekiZheemKulture Marketplace aims to create additional market opportunities for artisans, performers, producers and other creative professionals across the Niger Delta.
If implemented, the initiative could provide a platform for cultural enterprises to reach new customers while contributing to the development of the region’s creative economy. However, its $5 billion ambition and participation targets remain proposed goals rather than confirmed economic outcomes.