Nigeria’s Director-General, National Council For Arts And Culture (NCAC), has been selected as one of the Top Travel Icons of the Year by Travellers Awards, earning recognition among the Top 100 Industry Leaders in Nigeria.
Obi Asika is a visionary leader, ecosystem builder and one of the leading architects of Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries. With over two decades of experience across music, film, television, technology, sports and culture, he has played a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s creative economy, soft power and global cultural influence.
As Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Asika brings extensive experience as a creative entrepreneur, cultural advocate and policy contributor. His leadership is focused on strengthening Nigeria’s cultural sector, expanding opportunities for creative practitioners, fostering strategic partnerships and positioning Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and creative industries as drivers of national development and global engagement.
Before assuming public office, Asika founded The Omniverse, a multi-sector collaboration platform integrating storytelling, technology and the creative industries. As founder of Storm 360/Storm Records, he played a pivotal role in nurturing some of Nigeria’s globally successful artists and contributed significantly to the growth of the country’s modern music industry. His work also spans major television productions, including Big Brother Nigeria, The Apprentice Africa, Dragons’ Den Nigeria and Naija Sings.
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In 2015, he became the first Presidential Senior Special Assistant on Digital Policy and Social Media. He has contributed to numerous national policy and development initiatives and served in key capacities across culture, media and sports. His engagements include serving as National Coordinator of the Technical Working Group on Culture, Creativity, Hospitality and Tourism for the Nigeria Agenda 2020–2050 and as a member of the Review Panel of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
A respected voice on African creative economies, Asika is a co-convener of the Africa Soft Power Project and founder of Iba Ajie, a cultural, arts and innovation hub in Onitsha. He has spoken at leading global institutions and platforms, including Harvard Business School, the Wharton School, MIT and London Business School.
His recognitions include the African Leadership Network Honoree, Black Enterprise “100 Modern Men,” Afrobeats Hall of Fame Inductee and Cannes Lions Jury Member for Music.
Through his work in the creative, cultural and public sectors, Obi Asika continues to champion the development of Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries, leveraging culture, creativity and innovation as powerful tools for economic growth, national development and global influence.
