BY TALABI SIMEON ABIMBOLA
With just 17 days to go, preparations are in full swing for the much-anticipated African Cultural Festival (ACF2025) scheduled to hold from September 19–21, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
The festival, themed “Africa to the World: Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration,” will convene African and diaspora leaders, U.S. legislators, global creatives, entrepreneurs, and cultural powerhouses to celebrate, promote, and commercialise Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
Speaking at a press briefing hosted by Providus Bank in Lekki, Lagos, on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Idris Aregbe, highlighted Lagos’s leadership role in driving Africa’s creative economy onto the global stage.
“As the heartbeat of Africa’s creative economy, Lagos is proud to champion our cultural wealth and innovation at ACF2025. Beyond celebration, this festival creates real pathways for economic growth, opening doors for tourism investment, global partnerships, and opportunities that will strengthen Lagos’ position as West Africa’s cultural and economic hub,” Aregbe stated.
Festival Director, Foluke Michael, reflected on the global unveiling of ACF2025 earlier this year at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, where Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and art icon Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye were honoured at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate.
“That moment confirmed the festival’s international importance. ACF2025 is more than a festival. It is a celebration, an investment, and a legacy for Africa and its diaspora,” she said.
Representing the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Head of Liaison Office, Mr. Dipo Odebowale, described the festival as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s excellence.
“NiDCOM is excited to join forces with stakeholders to shape Nigeria’s narrative globally. ACF2025 provides a unique platform to showcase the brilliance of Nigerians at home and abroad while creating stronger cultural and economic ties with our diaspora,” he noted.
Also speaking, Ms. Oluwatoyin Adepoju, Head of Diaspora Banking at Providus Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to connecting African talent with global opportunities.
“Providus Bank is proud to support a festival that fosters youth entrepreneurship, diaspora investment, and creative enterprise. We are committed to strengthening the ties between Nigeria’s creative sector and the global community,” Adepoju said.
As Africa’s undisputed capital of creativity, Lagos will lead a powerful delegation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and cultural ambassadors to Harrisburg. From fashion and food to technology and trade, Lagos will proudly showcase its world-class heritage, industries, and human capital.
Through this platform, the State aims to deepen diaspora engagement, forge global partnerships, and attract high-impact investments that will advance socio-economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.