The Role of Creative Arts Education in Promoting Cultural Sustainability among Nigerian Youth: Perspectives from Practitioners in Ogun State, Nigeria

The sustainability of cultural heritage has become a growing concern in contemporary societies experiencing rapid globalisation and technological transformation. In Nigeria, the influence of foreign cultural practices has increasingly challenged the transmission of indigenous cultural values and artistic traditions among younger generations. This paper explores the role of creative arts education in promoting cultural sustainability among Nigerian youth. Adopting a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with fifteen purposively selected participants comprising creative arts lecturers, professional artists, theatre practitioners, cultural custodians, and youth artists in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. Findings revealed that creative arts education contributes significantly to cultural sustainability through cultural heritage preservation, identity formation, intergenerational knowledge transfer, promotion of indigenous artistic practices, and youth empowerment. However, inadequate funding, curriculum limitations, insufficient institutional support, and the dominance of foreign cultural content were identified as major challenges. The paper recommends strengthening indigenous content within arts curricula, supporting community-based cultural education initiatives, and integrating digital technologies into cultural preservation efforts. The paper concludes that creative arts education remains a viable instrument for sustaining Nigeria's cultural heritage among contemporary youth. Keywords: Creative arts education, Cultural sustainability, Cultural heritage, Nigerian youth, Indigenous knowledge, Arts education