Shettima seeks greater economic gains from African creativity

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged African countries to convert their growing global cultural influence into sustainable economic wealth.

Shettima made the call on Thursday at the opening of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend 2026 in Lagos.

He said Africa must move beyond celebrating its creative achievements to building industries capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and expanding international trade.

The vice-president said the Federal Government was strengthening intellectual property protection, expanding access to finance for creative businesses and positioning Nigeria to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“In 1977, we came to celebrate our culture. Today, we have come to capitalise on it by turning the world’s applause into contracts and its admiration into markets.

“We must also turn the talent of our young people into enduring wealth,” he said.

Shettima noted that Nigeria’s global influence in film, music, fashion and literature must be supported by deliberate investment, stronger institutions and improved access to international markets.

He described Nigeria’s hosting of CANEX Weekend for the first time as recognition of its growing influence in the creative economy.

He said the administration was working through the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment and Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy to strengthen intellectual property protection and improve financing for creative enterprises.

“Creativity is now a trade sector, and we intend to treat it as one,” he said.

The vice-president commended the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for committing two billion dollars to Africa’s creative industries through 2027.

He recalled that the 2024 CANEX gathering in Algiers attracted nearly 4,000 participants from 81 countries and facilitated deals worth more than 540 million dollars.

Shettima also recalled the historic FESTAC ’77 celebration at the National Theatre, saying Nigeria’s global creative reputation was built through the ingenuity of its filmmakers, musicians, designers and writers.

He said CANEX Weekend 2026 would help prepare the ground for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair scheduled to hold in Lagos in 2027.

He urged African governments to remove barriers restricting creative trade across the continent and improve access to African films, music and other cultural products across national borders.

Earlier, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos described Nigeria’s hosting of the event as further recognition of Lagos as a major centre of Africa’s creative economy.

He said the event’s return to the National Theatre, which hosted activities during FESTAC ’77, underscored Lagos’ longstanding role in promoting African arts and culture.

Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwo