By Fortune Abang
Senior International Trade Consultant Collins Nweke has called on the Federal Government to strengthen cooperation with the Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum (NBLBF) for Nigeria’s economic growth.
Nweke, the author of the soon-to-be-launched book, “Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora”, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Nweke spoke as a follow up to a meeting by Thomas De Beule, Commercial Director of the CBL-ACP Chamber of Commerce, with Hannatu Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
Following their meeting, De Beule sees Musawa as a top-level official with so much confidence in Nigeria’s creative industry, which has earned global attention.
According to him, such a reality presents a profound strategic opportunity to advance the nation’s economic growth.
He said that positioning the creative economy at the centre of the business forum indicates that Nigeria was serious about narrative-driven diplomacy that resonates with investors and other stakeholders.
Nweke said, “National influence is no longer driven solely by trade volumes or political alliances; it is increasingly defined by identity, storytelling, and the cultural capital a nation projects.
“As preparations intensify for the 2026 NBLBF in Brussels, the message is clear: Nigeria’s creative economy should not arrive as a supporting act. It should headline the conversation.
“The forum’s evolution from traditional posture – infrastructure and agriculture – to culture and tourism aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s strengths, and with the minister’s vision of culture.
“This evolution has made the sector an active instrument of economic diplomacy, rather than a symbolic one.”
He commended the discussion with the Commercial Director and Head, Bilateral Section for Nigeria at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture for Belgium, Luxembourg, Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (CBL-ACP), saying it has reshaped global diplomacy.
Nweke, the Diaspora thought leader and Chair Emeritus of Nigerians in Diaspora (NiDO) – Europe, described culture as currency in soft power and economic diplomacy.
This, according to him, is culture as a strategic asset in global influence, a currency that converts influence into jobs, exports, and lasting partnerships.
“Nigeria’s cultural exports, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, fashion, festivals, have become defining features of its global presence. They are not just expressions of identity; they are measurable engines of economic value.
“They open markets, draw tourism, build partnerships and shape how the world imagines and engages with the country. This is soft power in its most productive form: culture acting as currency.
“When deployed intentionally, it converts visibility into opportunity and connection into commerce.
“For Belgium and Luxembourg, nations with rich cultural traditions and thriving creative ecosystems, Nigeria’s dynamism offers fertile ground for cocreation, from film-coproductions, design exchanges to festival circuits and heritage showcases.”
Nweke affirmed that NBLBF had been a bridge between Nigeria and the Belux region, as it had created a conduit for investment flows and focused dialogue.
He added that a lot could be achieved through technical agreements and sector-driven negotiations.
“Today, global economic diplomacy demands more than technical agreements and sector-driven negotiation. It requires trust, shared narratives, and cultural understanding.
“For good reasons, these are the very foundations of lasting partnerships. Belgium has long understood this.
“This is why cultural diplomacy is woven into its international engagement. The 2026 Forum offers a chance to build a new model of partnership rooted in authenticity, connectivity, and inclusive growth,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Emmanuel Yashim
