The Federal Government is seeking to expand the economic contribution of Nigeria’s creative industry as part of its ambition to build a $1 trillion economy.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the government planned to use the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2026 to improve financing for creative businesses, commercialise intellectual property and connect Nigerian enterprises with investors and international markets.
Oduwole said Nigeria’s established strengths in music, film, fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy and sports offered opportunities for job creation, investment and export growth. She said the country needed to capture more of the economic value generated by its creative output.
The four-day CANEX event, scheduled for November 5 to 8 in Lagos, will feature creative and commercial activities spanning music, film, fashion, literature, gastronomy, visual arts, sports and technology. Discussions will also focus on financing, enterprise development, investment and access to international markets.
The minister said the creative economy required collaboration across government institutions and the private sector, noting that the Federal Government was working with ministries and agencies responsible for arts and culture, finance, foreign affairs, customs, immigration and monetary policy, alongside the Lagos State Government. About 10,000 participants are expected from Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
All 36 states, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the National Economic Council are expected to participate, with each state operating a pavilion to showcase local products, businesses, culture and investment opportunities. Lagos has also activated transportation, healthcare, emergency response and traffic-management measures ahead of the event.
Oduwole said CANEX 2026 would also mark 50 years since the construction of the National Theatre and serve as a precursor to the 2027 Intra-African Trade Fair in Lagos. She urged African and international investors and creative-industry stakeholders to attend the event and use it to develop partnerships, investment opportunities and access to wider markets.
