Ileya Omo Okun Foundation Congratulates Enikanolaiye as Nigeria Moves to Promote Culture Through Soft Power Diplomacy
Ileya Omo Okun Generational Foundation has congratulated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye on his appointment as Nigeria moves to harness music, tourism, entertainment and cultural heritage for soft power diplomacy.
The Ileya Omo Okun Generational Foundation (IOOGF) has congratulated the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, on his appointment, describing him as a source of pride to the Okun people and Nigeria at large.
The foundation gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the minister in his office on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, where discussions centred on cultural diplomacy, the promotion of Nigeria’s creative industry and the need to project the country’s rich cultural heritage to the international community.
During the meeting, Enikanolaiye disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working towards developing a soft power diplomacy model that would leverage music, entertainment, tourism and other aspects of Nigerian culture to deepen citizens’ understanding of government policies and strengthen the country’s international image.
The minister explained that culture had become an important instrument of diplomacy, offering an alternative to traditional approaches that rely primarily on political, economic or military influence.
According to him, soft power diplomacy seeks to influence people through cultural appeal, shared values and the distinctive way of life of a people.
He said Nigeria possessed enormous cultural resources and creative talents that could be harnessed to promote the country’s identity and interests beyond its borders.
“We want to project our invaluable culture like music, food, dress code, history, artefacts, and creative industry, among others. Nigeria has enormous talents or resources in this area. We are determined to harness and promote them to the outside world. It is one area we want to do more,” Enikanolaiye stated.
The minister also acknowledged the contributions of Nigerians working in the creative industry, noting that many practitioners had continued to demonstrate exceptional talent and commitment despite receiving limited government support.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was determined to reposition the sector and create opportunities for Nigerian creatives to gain greater recognition and access to wider markets.
Enikanolaiye disclosed that preparations were underway for CANTEX, an upcoming cultural festival scheduled to hold in Lagos, and encouraged members of the visiting foundation to participate in the initiative.
He further expressed concern over piracy and the inadequate protection of intellectual property in the creative sector, stressing the need to safeguard the rights of artists and other creative professionals.
The minister, who described himself as a longstanding advocate for intellectual property protection, maintained that individuals should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of their creativity and hard work.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the Ileya Omo Okun Festival 2026, Mr Richard Akefe, explained the vision behind the cultural event and outlined its major activities.
He said the festival was designed to celebrate Okun identity, recognise outstanding contributions to society and promote the cultural heritage of the Okun people.
Among the activities lined up for the festival are Iya ni Wura, a recognition initiative celebrating motherhood; Ogo Okun, a Trailblazer Award; Omidan Oge, a beauty pageant; the Okun Super Cooking Competition; and Zeetia Cares, an empowerment programme.
The initiatives are expected to provide platforms for celebrating cultural values, recognising excellence, showcasing indigenous cuisine and supporting community development.
The convener of the Ileya Omo Okun Festival, Yeye Omoleye Adebanji Aiyelabowo, who also serves as project coordinator, said her vision was to project Okun culture to the wider world and establish Okun identity as a globally recognised cultural brand.
She explained that the festival was conceived as a platform for preserving the people’s heritage, promoting their traditions and creating opportunities to showcase Okun cultural values to national and international audiences.
Aiyelabowo and other members of the delegation congratulated Enikanolaiye on his appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing his emergence as a source of pride to the Okun people and Nigerians generally.
The meeting highlighted the potential for collaboration between government institutions and cultural organisations in promoting Nigeria’s cultural assets as instruments of diplomacy, tourism development and international engagement.
With Nigeria seeking to strengthen its global cultural presence, initiatives such as the Ileya Omo Okun Festival could provide additional platforms for showcasing indigenous traditions, supporting creative talents and projecting the country’s cultural diversity to the world.