African Cultural Festival 2025: Lagos Leads Delegation to Pennsylvania

African Cultural Festival 2025: Lagos Leads Delegation to Pennsylvania
… Providus Bank, Lagos State Government, Partners Kickstart Countdown
Dipo Odebowale described the event as a platform to project Nigeria’s global excellence.

With just 17 days to go, preparations are in top gear for the African Cultural Festival (ACF2025), scheduled for September 19–21 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

Eko Hot Blog reports that themed “Africa to the World: Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration,” the festival will bring together African and diaspora leaders, U.S. legislators, global creatives, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons to celebrate, promote, and commercialise Africa’s cultural heritage.

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At a press briefing hosted by Providus Bank in Lekki, Lagos, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Idris Aregbe, stressed Lagos’s leadership role in advancing Africa’s creative economy on 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 said.

Festival Director, Foluke Michael, recalled the global unveiling of ACF2025 at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg earlier this year, where Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and art icon Chief Nike Okundaye were honoured at the Pennsylvania legislature.

“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 Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dipo Odebowale, Head of Liaison Office, described the event as a platform to project Nigeria’s global 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,” Odebowale noted.

Providus Bank also reaffirmed its commitment to youth enterprise and diaspora partnerships. “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,” said Oluwatoyin Adepoju, Head of Diaspora Banking.

As Africa’s undisputed capital of creativity, Lagos will lead a delegation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and cultural ambassadors to Harrisburg.

The showcase will span fashion, food, technology, and trade, positioning Lagos and Nigeria as cultural and economic powerhouses.

Through this platform, Lagos aims to deepen diaspora engagement, strengthen international partnerships, and attract high-impact investments to drive socio-economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.

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