Lagos Reaffirms Support for Creative Industry at Eko Creative Summit 2026
The Lagos State Government has once again underscored its commitment to developing the creative economy, describing the sector as a powerful engine for economic growth, job creation, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. The reaffirmation came during the Eko Creative Summit 2026, a gathering that brought together government officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and emerging creatives to discuss the future of Nigeria’s fast-growing creative sector.
Organised by the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture (LSCAC) in partnership with Rhoda Johnson Media (RJM), the summit was held at NECA House in Alausa, Ikeja. It served as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and practical discussions aimed at helping young creatives build sustainable careers in industries such as music, fashion, media, design, digital content, and entrepreneurship.
From the Ministry of Tourism
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, the ministry’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, Taoreed Dosumu, encouraged participants to embrace continuous learning, innovation, and strategic collaboration. He noted that the creative economy remains one of the key pillars of Lagos State’s development agenda and urged young professionals to position themselves for opportunities not only within Nigeria but also across international markets.
The government’s message reflects a broader strategy to position Lagos as Africa’s leading hub for creativity, entertainment, tourism, and cultural innovation. In recent years, the state has expanded investments in creative education, filmmaking, cultural preservation, and tourism infrastructure while partnering with institutions to provide training for thousands of young creatives. The purpose of these efforts are to build a globally competitive ecosystem capable of generating employment and attracting investment.
Also speaking at the summit, Idowu Johnson, Director-General of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, described the event as more than just another industry conference. According to him, the summit was created to inspire creativity, encourage entrepreneurship, and equip emerging talents with the practical knowledge required to transform creative skills into sustainable businesses. He also acknowledged the contributions of partners, facilitators, and industry stakeholders whose support helped make the event possible.
Also, from the Council’s Director of Administration and HR
The Council’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, Busola Odedina, highlighted several government-backed programmes designed to strengthen the creative and cultural sectors. She encouraged aspiring creatives to take advantage of available training initiatives, partnerships, and capacity-building opportunities that can improve their competitiveness in an increasingly global marketplace.
One of the summit’s practical highlights was a masterclass by Dr. Princess Kelechi, founder of GMYT Fashion Academy. During her session, she spoke about creativity, entrepreneurship, and the importance of developing commercially viable skills. She also presented a cash prize of ₦100,000 to one participant whose enthusiasm and active participation stood out during the programme, reinforcing the summit’s emphasis on rewarding excellence and encouraging young talent.
Beyond keynote presentations, attendees participated in panel discussions covering a wide range of topics relevant to today’s creative economy. Sessions explored personal branding, career development, media and public relations, entrepreneurship, music, digital innovation, collaboration, and strategies for building sustainable creative businesses. These conversations reflected the industry’s growing recognition that creative success today depends not only on talent but also on business knowledge, technology, and strategic networking.
The Speaker Lineup
The speaker lineup featured notable personalities from different segments of the creative ecosystem, including media strategist Dami Adenuga, musicians Ycee and Dotti, artist and brand consultant Ola Oluwasanmi, business strategist Michael Esio (Oscar), and rapper Odumodu Blvck, who joined virtually. Their diverse backgrounds gave participants practical insights into building successful careers across multiple creative disciplines.
Many attendees described the summit as both informative and inspiring, citing the networking opportunities, practical business lessons, and direct interactions with established professionals as some of the event’s biggest highlights. Participants also commended the Lagos State Government for creating a platform that supports youth development while encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship within the creative sector.
As Nigeria’s creative economy continues to gain global recognition, initiatives such as the Eko Creative Summit demonstrate the increasing collaboration between government and private stakeholders to develop the industry’s long-term potential. Beyond celebrating creative talent, the summit focused on equipping participants with the knowledge, networks, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to compete in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.
Source: This event announcement and details were originally reported by The Nation Newspaper.
