Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged African countries to translate the continent’s growing global cultural influence into sustainable economic wealth through investment in creative industries. Shettima said Africa must move beyond celebrating its creative achievements to building viable industries capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and expanding international trade. ……
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged African countries to translate the continent’s growing global cultural influence into sustainable economic wealth through investment in creative industries.
Shettima said Africa must move beyond celebrating its creative achievements to building viable industries capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and expanding international trade.
He made the call on Thursday during the official opening of the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend, organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The Vice-President said Africa’s creative talents and increasing global recognition presented significant economic opportunities that must be converted into long-term prosperity.
He noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was strengthening intellectual property protection, expanding access to finance for creative enterprises and positioning Nigeria to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to Shettima, protecting intellectual property and improving access to funding are essential to building competitive creative businesses and ensuring that African creators benefit economically from their work.
CANEX Weekend is an Afreximbank initiative designed to promote Africa’s creative and cultural industries, facilitate investment and expand opportunities for African creative businesses in international markets.
