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By John Musa
This month, the Cavic Festival of Creativity and Technology took place in Abuja with the theme “Interactive Futures: Bridging Realities.” This festival, now in its second edition, aims to highlight Nigeria’s thriving creative sector, while promoting international collaborations, cultural exchange, and technological innovation.
One of the key events of the festival was the participation of two Ukrainian speakers who came specifically to perform master classes for their Nigerian colleagues.
Maria Bekh, designer and creator of her own fashion brand, with experience of presentations in London and Paris, performed a lecture titled “Fashioning the Future: Merging Art, Technology and Style in Hybrid Realities.”
Nikita Glushenko, Co-founder of the “Kom Zu Mir” company, Head of the War Against War Project (a media group producing content about Ukraine for an international audience), shared his vast experience in the lecture: “Cinematic Art: Crafting Visual Narratives to Captivate Audiences.”
Guests listened with rapt attention about how to create and promote their brand in a rapidly developing technological world. The speakers shared tools and tips gained during their work in different parts of the world. Glushenko also shared Ukrainian experience in increasing the interest of the world community and promoting Ukraine as a brand. “Nigeria is an amazing country,” said the lecturer, adding that “promoting Nigeria as a brand is needed right now.”
The visit was organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry representative in Nigeria.
Addressing the media, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko, indicated that despite the ongoing war that Russia launched against its neighbour in 2023, Ukraine is not giving up.
Ambassador Kholostenko also said fighting back against the enemy on the battlefield, Ukraine continues to increase its diplomatic presence in Africa.
“We consider Nigeria as one of the key geopolitical partners. We already have experience of long-term and successful cooperation. This is especially evident in the field of student exchanges. Before the outbreak of the war, about 9, 000 Nigerian students studied in Ukraine. And now we are working to create conditions to ensure that applicants have the opportunity to study full-time again.”
The envoy noted: “Russia is aiming at destroying our identity, culture, language, our roots. That is why we are introducing the world to Ukraine, our heritage, our experts and professionals. Today, we are very pleased that Ukrainian citizens can share their experience with Nigerian partners. Ukraine aims to build long-term and fruitful cooperation with Nigeria. Both our nations have deep cultural roots and are able to enrich each other’s heritage,” Ambassador Kholostenko said.
Sharing his vision on the perspectives, Ambassador said: “Today our speakers were talking about two promising areas of cooperation. First is fashion industry, which offers great opportunities for cultural exchange, creativity, and economic growth. Nigeria is known for its vibrant approach to design, with traditional Ankara fabrics and modern fashion that celebrate African identity. Ukrainian fashion combines folk elements like embroidered patterns with contemporary European trends.
“By sharing experiences, designers from both countries can create unique collections that mix African and Ukrainian aesthetics, attracting both local and international audiences. Fashion designers, textile producers, and stylists from Nigeria and Ukraine can work together in fashion shows, festivals, and fairs to showcase their creations and exchange ideas.
“This collaboration in fashion can also boost the economy by creating new jobs and attracting investments in both countries.
“Another promising filed of joint effort is film industry and promoting our countries as brands on the global stage. With the growth of the global film industry, cinema has become a powerful tool for promoting cultural values and shaping a positive image of nations. Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood, is one of the largest in the world. It’s an inspiring example of how Nigeria successfully uses film to showcase its culture. Ukraine’s film industry, too, is actively evolving, even in challenging times. Ukrainian cinema reflects our national identity, historical roots, and cultural values, resonating with audiences both within and beyond our borders.
“By joining forces, Ukrainian and Nigerian filmmakers can not only promote cultural exchange, but also increase awareness of Ukraine and Nigeria, building the images of our countries as strong cultural brands.
“I do believe today was just the first step towards strengthening our cross-cultural dialogue.”
Musa, a journalist, contributed this piece from Abuja.
