By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Details of the 2026 edition of the +234 Art Fair slated for the Ecobank Pan‑African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, have emerged.

The event, in its third season, organised by Ecobank Nigeria and Soto Galley, will take place from March 5 to 8, 2026, with the theme Inclusivity, underscoring the shared commitment of the organisers to creative entrepreneurship, equitable access, and the deliberate expansion of opportunity within Nigeria’s contemporary art ecosystem.

“Inclusivity is about opening doors wider and changing who gets seen, supported, and celebrated. We are already receiving exceptional works from artists who might otherwise not have access to platforms like this. The application remains open, and I encourage Nigerian artists to seize this opportunity to be recognised among the continent’s finest,” the founder of Soto Gallery, Ms Tola Akerele, said.

The Head of SME Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, Ms Omoboye Odu, described the 2026 fair as a purposeful intervention aimed at reshaping how Nigerian creativity is discovered, supported, and sustained.

“For the third edition of the +234 Art Fair, we celebrate Inclusivity as both a principle and a practice. Art belongs to everyone. This fair intentionally broadens the frame—moving beyond traditional centres of access to spotlight talent from the margins, from new geographies, and from voices that deserve to be heard.

“If you are an artist working across boundaries, challenging perspectives, or creating outside established systems, this is your moment. +234 Art Fair 2026 is about building a more equitable creative future—together.”

The +234 Art Fair has quickly established itself as one of Lagos’ most important contemporary art platforms, with a distinct focus on emerging and often ungalleried Nigerian artists.

In just a few years, the fair has become a critical gateway—connecting local talent to collectors, patrons, cultural institutions, and global audiences, while strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy.

This year’s programme is expected to attract a diverse audience, including art lovers from across Nigeria, residents of the African diaspora, senior government officials, policymakers, members of the diplomatic community, collectors, and global art enthusiasts.

Episode 2 of Heartbeat turned up the heat, giving viewers a closer look at the singles, their intentions, and the sparks already flying in the Love Pad.

Ken and Latifah were still feeling the closeness from their night together. Latifah was clearly enjoying the attention and didn’t want it to end, while Ken expressed comfort with her but also hinted at exploring other connections, a move that immediately stirred emotions.

As the singles settled in, conversations revealed more about who they really are. Chidera admitted her views on marriage and kids might clash with Kenna’s, though she confessed she liked him. Hilda shared that she was still trying to figure out Igwe, while Alvin revealed he finds older, intelligent women especially attractive. Shekinah, on the other hand, admitted she wasn’t connecting the way she hoped and longed for someone she could truly flow with in the Love Pad.

Drama soon followed when the singles wrote notes to the people who caught their eye and dropped them on the Walls of Heart. While some singles like Chidera, Kena, and Hilda didn’t receive any notes, Toria and Igwe were clearly the centre of attention.

Toria received notes from three different singles. Igwe wrote that he finds her attractive and would love to explore a connection with her. Ken described her as his “spec” and said he wants to get to know her on a deeper level, while Alvin expressed interest and curiosity, hoping to see where a connection with her could lead.

Igwe also received notes from three singles. Latifah asked him to make the first move, sharing that she would like to have conversations with him. Shekinah said she wanted to explore deeper conversations, while Toria wrote that she’s interested in getting to know him better and seeing where things could go.

Some singles didn’t get any notes, but that didn’t shake them. Chidera felt confident about her bond with Kena, Kena stayed focused on Chidera, and Hilda kept her cool despite the quiet attention.

Tensions rose during a playful lemon game when Shekinah stopped mid-play, leading to a heated exchange with Igwe. Later, Shekinah and Alvin had an honest conversation about respect and communication, leaving Shekinah surprised by his directness. Ken and Latifah navigated tricky emotions as Ken admitted he’d like to be paired with Toria if recoupling happened, which didn’t sit well with Latifah, who revealed she had her eyes on Igwe.

The episode climaxed with the Score Kiss Challenge, a blindfolded game where men kissed each woman while wearing headphones, and the women rated each kiss purely on feel. When the scores were counted, Igwe emerged as the best kisser, earning the power to choose who he would spend the night with in the Love Nest, a choice that could shift dynamics across the house.

Episode 2 proved that attraction, curiosity, and tension are rising fast. With notes exchanged, sparks flying, and Igwe holding the key to the next night, all eyes are on Episode 3 to see who will get the Love Nest and whose hearts will collide next.

Catch Heartbeat every Sunday at 9 pm on Africa Magic Showcase, GOtv Channel 8, and Showmax. To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.

Skills development is one of the fundamental engines of growth for any industry. Training allows aspiring young people to enter the economy, passionate about building careers and contributing to the growth of the business. Their energy is infectious and vital, but it must be shaped through training.

In creative industries, however, training has a wider effect. It not only equips emerging young professionals with skills, but it also drives shared value and enriches culture through the work and the content that those young creators go on to produce.

Africa-wide training

A case in point is the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), an Africa-wide network of training institutions headquartered in Nairobi, Lagos and Lusaka, and founded by MultiChoice, a Canal+ company.

The effectiveness of MTF courses, grounded in three decades enriching lives as Africa’s most-loved storyteller, are widely recognised. But the close relationship with the MultiChoice network also means that graduates of the academies soon go on to rewarding careers creating content for the pan-African network.

This is local content; homegrown, relevant and resonating with the tastes and the cultural needs of African audiences – allowing viewers to see themselves reflected in the shows they love. These might be iconic reality shows like Big Brother Naija,  Heartbeat, Real Housewives of Lagos, or popular drama such as Tinsel.

The films they produce are broadcast to audience acclaim on MultiChoice channels across the continent. These culturally impactful films include West African fantasy drama Grown.

Applications are currently open for this year’s intake of students at the MTF Academies in Lagos, Nairobi and Lusaka. African graduates who aspire to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers can now apply for fully funded courses at the industry-leading network of academies.

As part of the CANAL+ family, MultiChoice has rededicated itself to empowering young people with filmmaking, production and storytelling skills.

Enriching lives through content

This homegrown content is cultural output, entertaining and inspiring audiences from Maputo to Accra, strengthening African and national identity, while creating further jobs, boosting entrepreneurship and business opportunities and building a trove of African intellectual property.

MultiChoice functions as an ecosystem catalyst, building partnerships with broadcasters, guilds, financiers, and educators that scale opportunity beyond a single platform. MTF graduates then enter this ecosystem upon graduation, and enrich it with their passion, ideas and awareness.

In an economic sense, training academies like MTF are engines of growth. Feeding the creative economy with up to 60 graduates every year gives it energy and impetus that leads to new productions, and fresh approaches to existing ones. Those productions build audiences and revenue, which in turn funds more creative projects, jobs and skills across the value chain.

Homegrown Culture Engine

MultiChoice stands out as a homegrown culture engine, shaping modern African culture through decades of local content. It drives social-media trends, memes, gossip, and watch parties. Shows like Big Brother Naija attract millions online, sparking conversations and creating culture.

Big Brother Naija has launched stars across West Africa, like Mercy Eke, whose fame has brought multi million endorsements and business like MNM Luxury and Lambo homes. Sparking conversations, inspiring comments, and creating culture.

Creating this culture demands more than technical skill, it requires the instincts of Africa’s digital generation, people who understand how modern Africans live, engage, and consume content. For audiences, this approach ensures entertainment that reflects their tastes, lifestyles, and values.

Those who are interested in joining the next generation of storytellers can apply to the MTF 2026 cohort. Applications close on 27 February 2026. Prospective students can visit https://multichoicetalentfactory.com/mtf-applications/index.php to learn more about the MTF programme requirements.

For aspiring filmmakers, this could be their first step towards a career at the cutting edge of African entertainment.