NCAC Partners Mefa On World-Class Entertainment Venues in Nigeria

The National Council for Arts and Culture, one of the agencies under the Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, has announced a historic collaboration with Mefa Abuja, a market leader in Africa's performance venue industry, to establish a complete network of world-class entertainment venues throughout Nigeria.

Obi Asika, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), said at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Thursday that the collaboration would deliver six multi-functional venues in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Enugu.

Asika said the collaboration would provide artistes with sustainable income streams, fostering a vibrant performance culture, and capitalising on Nigeria's growing music market.

The NCAC DGA hailed the agreement as a watershed moment, underlining its potential to change Nigeria's entertainment and sports sector.

Asika stated, “Today is a historic day for the Council  as we sign this MOU to deliver six venues across Nigeria, kicking off with Abuja and Lagos, which will provide world class spaces that are multi-functional and that deliver live entertainment and sports and enable capacity building. 

"We are delighted to partner with Mefa and look forward to bringing these facilities live to provide more opportunities for all Nigerians.

"This pioneering programme demonstrates NCAC's dedication to improving Nigeria's cultural legacy and offering opportunities for young talents. It aligns with the Ministry's eight-point plan by encouraging strategic alliances, contributing to GDP growth, and creating an enabling environment."

Earlier, Yinka Obebe, Co-founder of the collaborating company, praised the collaboration, saying it would provide a platform for artistes to thrive and contribute to the long-term growth of the entertainment industry.

Obebe said, “Our partnership with the National Council for Arts and Culture marks a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionise Nigeria’s entertainment landscape.

"By establishing these venues and curating regular performances, we are not only creating a platform for artistes to thrive but also contributing to the sustainable growth of the industry.

"The effort includes Mefa's incubation programme which focuses on fostering budding artistes and preparing them to maximize the rewards of their live performance careers.

"As Nigeria's primary institution, NCAC plays a critical role in furthering the country's cultural legacy and offering forums for new talent to display their work. This agreement strengthens NCAC's status as a driving force in Nigeria's entertainment industry."