Vice President Lucia Witbooi has called on African governments to mainstream the creative industry in their national development plans, emphasising the growing value of African creativity and culture as key drivers of economic transformation.

Speaking at the Creative Africa Nexus event during the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers, Witbooi stated that for too long, African cultures and creatives were undervalued, seen merely as entertainment rather than as powerful contributors to economic and social development.

Vice President Witbooi said that Namibia is aligning with Africa's broader vision by developing policies that place young creatives at the centre of national growth, urging other governments to do the same. 

These efforts include integrating the creative sector into tourism and broader economic planning.

She stressed that it is time creativity is recognised as a currency and culture as capital, highlighting the vast, untapped potential of Africa's creative industries as powerful drivers of opportunity and innovation.

Witbooi also pointed to the continent's vibrant music, fashion and film sectors as unifying forces that transcend borders and share Africa's stories with the world.

She applauded CANEX for serving as a vital bridge that empowers young people to thrive through creativity, saying that for many young people, creativity is not just a passion but a catalyst for economic inclusion.

The Creative Africa Nexus was launched in 2020 to place creativity and culture at the heart of Africa's economic transformation.