Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival Honours Ambassadors and Calls for Stronger Legal Protection of Nigerian Heritage

 
By Simpson Global Media News Desk

Report Date: Friday, 30 October 2026
Festival Dates: Thursday, 22 October–Saturday, 24 October 2026
Award Ceremony: Saturday, 24 October 2026
Venue: FCT Exhibition Pavilion, Abuja
Location: Central Area, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Theme: “Preserving African Heritage Through Film, Culture, Tourism and Creative Enterprise”

Cultural promoters honoured at 14th festival

The 14th Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival has recognised individuals and cultural advocates for their contributions to promoting Nigerian traditions, arts and identity, as organisers called for stronger institutional and legislative support to preserve the country's cultural heritage.

The awards were presented during the festival's closing activities on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the FCT Exhibition Pavilion in Abuja.

Among those honoured were broadcaster and gender advocate Dr Adaora Sydney-Jack, Professor Munachimso Stella, Okiemute Mrakpo, Nnena Njoku and Dr Queen Dillion.

Dr Onyekachi Nwaogu, Director and Clerk of the House Committee on Commerce at the National Assembly, was also recognised for contributions to cultural promotion.

The annual festival was organised by the Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival in collaboration with the House Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives.

Its 2026 theme, “Preserving African Heritage Through Film, Culture, Tourism and Creative Enterprise,” placed particular emphasis on the relationship between cultural preservation and economic opportunity.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported the awards and organisers' comments on 30 October.

Who received the honours?

The award night recognised several people through traditional titles and ambassadorial distinctions.

Dr Adaora Sydney-Jack received the traditional title “Ada N’ekwuru Ora”.

Professor Munachimso Stella was recognised as “Adabuzo”.

Okiemute Mrakpo was named Ambassador of African Culture.

Nnena Njoku received the title of International Ambassador of African Culture.

Dr Queen Dillion was conferred with the chieftaincy title “Ugosimba”.

Dr Onyekachi Nwaogu was also recognised as International Ambassador of African Culture.

The recipients were acknowledged for their contributions to promoting Nigerian cultural identity and supporting heritage-related activities.

The honours were intended to recognise cultural work across different professional and social fields rather than limiting cultural preservation to filmmakers and performers.

Speaking after receiving her title, Dillion expressed appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed her pride in her Nigerian and Igbo identity.

The festival's organisers said the awards were part of a wider effort to encourage people who contribute to preserving and promoting African culture.

Founder says festival has spent 14 years promoting heritage

Agility Onwurah, president and founder of the Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival, said the initiative had spent 14 years celebrating African culture and preserving heritage.

He thanked participants, supporters and partners whose involvement had helped sustain the annual programme.

The festival has developed as a platform bringing together film, fashion, food, music, traditional performances and discussions about the creative economy.

Onwurah said the 2026 edition introduced additional activities, including a fashion runway that allowed well-dressed participants selected from the audience to showcase African attire.

He also highlighted the festival's discussions about legislation and culture, particularly how appropriate legal frameworks could support cultural preservation and create economic opportunities.

The founder expressed hope that the conversations would lead to practical measures that strengthen the cultural sector.

Why legislation matters to cultural preservation

One of the major issues raised during the festival was the relationship between cultural heritage and public policy.

Dr Nwaogu said culture and legislation were closely connected, arguing that laws and institutional frameworks were important for protecting cultural values and supporting businesses operating within the creative sector.

She urged award recipients to regard their recognition as a responsibility to continue contributing to cultural preservation.

The discussion reflects a wider challenge facing Nigeria's cultural industries.

Cultural traditions may be preserved through community practices, oral histories, language, crafts, festivals, music and artistic expression. However, sustaining these activities often requires more than public celebrations.

Legal protections, funding arrangements, cultural documentation, educational programmes and support for creative businesses can help ensure that traditions remain accessible to future generations.

The cultural sector also faces questions involving intellectual property, ownership of traditional designs and expressions, commercial use of cultural materials and the protection of indigenous knowledge.

For example, fashion designers may draw inspiration from traditional fabrics and patterns, while filmmakers and musicians may incorporate folklore, indigenous languages and historical narratives into commercial productions.

Clear rules and responsible partnerships can help ensure that communities and cultural practitioners receive appropriate recognition and benefits from the use of their heritage.

The festival's discussions therefore extended beyond ceremonial recognition to consider the policy environment needed to sustain cultural activities.

Film, fashion and food take centre stage

The 2026 festival featured activities designed to showcase different expressions of Nigerian and African identity.

Film screenings provided an opportunity to present African stories and recognise filmmaking contributions.

The programme also included youth cultural activities and mentorship opportunities intended to encourage younger participants to engage with creative work and cultural knowledge.

The African Food Fest showcased indigenous cuisines and offered participating communities opportunities to present their food traditions.

Food is an important part of cultural identity because recipes, preparation methods, ingredients and eating customs often reflect local histories and community practices.

The festival's fashion runway brought traditional fabrics and contemporary African designs into the same programme.

Participants used clothing to showcase the variety of styles associated with different Nigerian communities.

Cultural dances, masquerade performances, folktales and the cutting of the new yam were also among the festival highlights.

These activities brought together performance, storytelling, food and clothing as different ways of communicating cultural identity.

Digital competition highlights young cultural voices

The festival also unveiled Face of NCHF 2026 through a digital competition themed “My Culture. My Identity. My Story”.

The competition provided another platform for cultural expression, particularly through digital participation.

Digital platforms have become increasingly important for the documentation and promotion of cultural materials.

Young people can use social media, photography, video, podcasts and other creative formats to present local traditions to audiences beyond their immediate communities.

However, digital promotion also creates questions about authenticity, ownership, consent and the accurate representation of cultural practices.

A sustainable cultural programme must therefore combine wider access with respect for the communities and traditions being represented.

Can cultural heritage create economic opportunities?

The festival's theme placed economic development alongside preservation.

Nigeria's cultural industries include film production, music, fashion, visual arts, crafts, food, publishing, tourism and live performances.

These activities can create employment for performers, technicians, designers, artisans, hospitality businesses, transport operators, marketers and other service providers.

Cultural festivals can also provide opportunities for small businesses to reach customers, showcase products and build relationships with investors and partners.

Traditional fashion, for example, can support textile producers, tailors, designers, accessory makers and retailers.

Food exhibitions can provide exposure for local producers, caterers and entrepreneurs specialising in indigenous dishes.

Film and tourism can also work together by introducing audiences to historical locations, festivals, languages and traditional practices.

However, cultural activity does not automatically generate sustainable income.

Businesses need access to finance, appropriate infrastructure, professional training, effective marketing and predictable regulatory conditions.

Cultural practitioners also require systems that protect their work and ensure that the economic benefits of commercial activity are fairly distributed.

The festival's discussions about culture and legislation were therefore relevant to the broader question of how Nigeria can develop its creative economy while protecting the heritage on which many creative products depend.

Funding remains a challenge

Despite its 14-year history, the festival's founder identified funding as a major challenge.

Onwurah said the initiative had relied on friends, partners and personal resources to sustain its activities over the years.

The funding problem is not unique to this festival.

Many cultural organisations depend on sponsorship, grants, donations, ticket revenue and personal contributions.

This can make it difficult to plan long-term programmes, preserve archival materials, support emerging artists or maintain regular cultural education activities.

More structured partnerships between government agencies, businesses, cultural institutions and private donors could help provide a more predictable funding base.

Corporate sponsorship may support specific activities, while public institutions can contribute through cultural policy, infrastructure and grants.

Educational institutions can also help through research, documentation and training.

For smaller cultural organisations, access to transparent funding opportunities and practical business support could make a significant difference.

The role of Nollywood in preserving Nigerian identity

Nollywood remains one of Nigeria's most visible cultural industries.

Through films and television productions, Nigerian filmmakers present stories involving family life, traditional institutions, languages, religion, history, social change and contemporary experiences.

Film can preserve cultural expressions by documenting ceremonies, clothing, music, folklore and community histories.

It can also introduce audiences in other countries to Nigerian languages and traditions.

However, filmmakers face the challenge of balancing creative freedom, commercial demands and accurate cultural representation.

The festival's emphasis on film and heritage highlights the potential of the industry to serve both entertainment and cultural education.

Its contribution will depend on the quality of storytelling, investment in production and the ability of filmmakers to reach audiences locally and internationally.

What happens after the festival?

The 2026 edition concluded on 24 October, but the organisers' comments have placed attention on the work required beyond the annual celebration.

The immediate next step is to translate the festival's discussions about legislation, partnerships and cultural enterprise into practical engagement.

The organisers have expressed hope that conversations with stakeholders will lead to measures that strengthen the sector.

However, no specific new law, government funding commitment or formal implementation timetable was announced in the reports reviewed.

Any future legislative action would require further engagement with the relevant institutions and lawmakers.

For cultural practitioners, the longer-term priorities include sustainable funding, protection of creative work, training for younger generations and better access to markets.

The festival's 2026 programme has provided a platform for those issues to be discussed, but their implementation will require continued collaboration.

A continuing effort to preserve Nigeria's cultural heritage

The Nollywood Cultural Heritage Festival's 14th edition has recognised people working to promote Nigerian culture while bringing together film, fashion, food, music and traditional performance.

The awards acknowledged cultural advocates, while the accompanying programme highlighted the importance of passing heritage to younger generations.

The festival also raised a significant policy question: how can Nigeria protect its cultural identity while allowing the creative industries built around that heritage to grow?

The answer will require a combination of cultural education, effective legislation, investment, community participation and responsible commercial development.

For organisers, the festival's 14-year history represents a continuing commitment to keeping African heritage visible.

Its lasting contribution will depend on whether the recognition and discussions generated at the event lead to stronger support for the people and communities responsible for preserving Nigeria's cultural traditions.