Showbiz
Osinbajo to Headline Creative Industry Financing Summit
**As FG Partners CNN, UNWTO
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, will declare open the Creative Industry Financing Conference slated for July 17 and 18, 2017, at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.
Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, made this disclosure on Monday at a roundtable with practitioners in the creative sector in Nigeria.
At the meeting today, the Minister said the Federal Government has entered into a tripartite partnership with the CNN and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to boost the Creative Industry in Nigeria, using the film industry as a pivot.
He said the movie industry would be used “as a lens through which we will project various aspects of the Nigerian Culture, Tourism and similar areas.”
”We are kick-starting the project with a 13-episode production showcasing the various stages in a movie production.
“These include the choice of location, which will allow us to showcase the various beautiful sceneries available in Nigeria; the choice of wardrobe that will show the rich options in the country’s fashion industry; the choice of sound track that will highlight our rich music genres, the casting that will showcase our abundant talents and the technical part that will provide the platform to show that there is no camera and other gadgets that we don’t have here.
”As part of the project, we will also run a programme on CNN showcasing the 20 Nigerians to watch in the Industry. The Nigerians to be showcased will be selected by the industry players themselves to ensure authenticity,” the Minister said.
He said the tripartite partnership, as well as the MoUs with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Bank of Industry and the British Council, were part of the efforts by the Federal Government to transform the Creative Industry to a Creative Economy.
Mr Mohammed said that he organized the Creative Industry Roundtable, which was well attended by industry players, to show the Federal Government’s willingness to work with the private sector in the transformation of the Creative Industry to a Creative Economy.
“This administration has no doubt that the plan to transform the creative industry to a creative economy must be driven by the private sector.
“After all, it is self-evident that the modest growth that has been achieved in the Creative Industry so far, whether in films, music or fashion, has been achieved in spite of the government.
“It therefore stands to reason that with the government providing the necessary enabling environment and the private sector in the driver’s seat, the transformation can be realized within a short time,” he said.
The Minister said the roundtable was not intended as another talk shop, adding that, “The stakeholders who are here are already aware of the problems mitigating against the seamless growth of the industry, hence I don’t expect us to spend quality time here today rehashing those problems. Instead, we should devote our time to seeking practical solutions to the problems we have earlier identified at many fora.”
Mr Mohammed reiterated his earlier statement that the Creative Industry is Nigeria’s new oil, saying statistics from other countries, including the UK and the US, attest to this.
“The Creative industry contributed £84.1 billion to the British economy in 2014. According to figures released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, that was an increase of £7 billion on the year before.
“The figures also show that the number of jobs in the industry grew by almost 9 percent between 2013 and 2014 – almost double the rest of the economy as a whole (4.6 percent).
“One of the areas of strongest growth was in film, TV, video, radio and photography, which rose almost 14 percent.
”In the United States, the Creative Industry, including Hollywood and broadcasting, contributes more to the U.S. economy than previously thought, the government said in its first official analysis of the arts and culture sector’s economic value.
“The 2015 report from the National Endowment for the Arts and US Bureau of Economic Analysis shows arts and culture contributed more than $698 billion to the economy, which is about 4.32 percent of US goods and services,” he said.
Mr Mohammed said the deliberations from the roundtable would feed into a larger event, the Creative Industry Financing Conference, slated for 17-18 July at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.
“To highlight the importance attached to this sector by the Federal Government, no less a personality than the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will declare that Conference open,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and the British High Commission in Nigeria have entered into a cultural partnership aimed at boosting creative exchange, strengthening cultural ties, and opening more international doors for African music as the 9th AFRIMA Awards is set to hold from January 7-11, 2026.
The collaboration, formalised through a newly signed Cultural Cooperation Agreement, also affirms that the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos will co-host the Welcome Soirée for the Nominees and Guests in Lagos, the official opening event of the 9th AFRIMA Awards Week.
The exclusive gathering will take place on January 7, 2026 and in attendance will be AU officials, AFRIMA delegates, jury members, international guests, nominees, creatives, and media professionals for an evening of networking and cultural connection.
Unarguably, Africa’s global music awards, the 9th AFRIMA, is organised by the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union Commission and the Lagos State government as the Official Host City.
Speaking of the partnership, AFRIMA’s Chief Experience Officer (CXO), Mr Adenrele Niyi, described the collaboration as a strategic move to deepen cultural diplomacy through music.
“This partnership reflects AFRIMA’s mission to position African music as a global force,” she said. “Beyond the awards, we are committed to building spaces where creativity meets opportunity and where African talent can confidently engage the world. Working with the British High Commission expands our platform for industry innovation, collaboration, and meaningful cultural exchange.”
Mr Niyi added that this edition of AFRIMA will place strong emphasis on strengthening global creative-industry relationships.
“Partnerships like this show just how relevant African music has become on the world stage. We’re honoured to collaborate with such an important institution, and we believe the impact will go far beyond 2025.”
The agreement, signed by Mr Gill Lever OBE, Chargé d’Affaires, British High Commission Nigeria, aligns with the UK’s ongoing support for Nigeria’s creative industries through enhanced cultural exchange and innovation.
She said, “The UK is delighted to partner with AFRIMA to celebrate the extraordinary creativity and talent of Africa’s music industry. This collaboration reflects our commitment to strengthening cultural ties between the UK and Nigeria, and across the African continent. Our Jollof and Tea campaign has shown us the power of bringing people together through culture, and we’re excited to build on that spirit. We look forward to a week of celebration that showcases the very best of African music and opens new doors for creative exchange and collaboration.”
Across the five-day celebration, the 9th AFRIMA will deliver a lineup of key events including the Diamond Showcase (January 7–8), the Africa Music Business Summit (January 8), Host City Tour and CSR Visit, the Music Village Concert (January 9), the Nominees & Industry Party (January 10), and the Red Carpet and Grand Awards Night (January 11). The awards ceremony will be broadcast live to more than 84 countries, ensuring the excitement reaches audiences around the world.
The fight against content theft intensified on Thursday as MultiChoice Nigeria led stakeholders in a Walk Against Piracy from Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, drawing a powerful mix of Nollywood actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, media personalities, regulators, students, and members of the public.
The walk was part of a broader national advocacy campaign aimed at protecting Nigeria’s creative economy from the escalating damage of piracy. Participants marched through the Ikeja axis, distributing flyers, engaging passers-by, and educating the public on the dangers of piracy and its impact on livelihoods.
Veteran actor, Saidi Balogun, one of the leading voices at the walk, described piracy as “a silent killer draining the lifeblood of the creative industry.”
“People see the glamour but forget the sweat, months of work, and the hundreds of jobs behind a single film,” he said. “When you pirate a movie, you are killing someone’s dream, someone’s job, and the future of an entire industry. It must stop.”
Screenwriter and producer, Obi Emelonye, warned that piracy poses an existential threat to the next generation of creatives.
“Piracy is a menace eating deeply into the industry. If we do nothing, young creatives coming behind us will inherit an economy with no structure, no revenue, and no incentive to create,” he stated. “We cannot allow that future.”
The regulatory perspective came from Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who emphasised both the legal and personal risks tied to piracy.
“Piracy is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, punishable by fines and imprisonment,” he said. “Beyond the legal consequences, consumers who download illegal content expose their devices to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud. It is not worth the risk.”
During the outreach, members of the public raised questions about affordability and alternatives to pirated content. The team responded by highlighting accessible, cost-friendly, and legal platforms available to consumers, underscoring that entertainment can be enjoyed responsibly without breaking the law.
Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice Nigeria, explained that the walk was a continuation of MultiChoice’s long-standing commitments to consumer education. Last month, the company led a school sensitisation programme at Kuramo Senior College in Victoria Island, teaching students how piracy harms creators and how they can unknowingly participate in it.
“We want to catch them young, take this message into communities, and meet Nigerians where they are,” Oghuma said. “Today’s walk is a reminder that protecting intellectual property is everyone’s responsibility. What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s creative future.”
Other notable participants included members of the Intellectual Property Law Advocacy Network (IPLAN), lawyers, media executives, content creators, and fans of Nigerian entertainment.
MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry bodies, and stakeholders to champion policies, education, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard creative work and ensure creators receive fair reward for their labour.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked viral news reports that that the chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Olalere Osunpaimo, well known as Lere Paimo, was dead.
In a public notice from the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, Mr Adejonwo Oluwafemi Femson, it was disclosed that the veteran action is “alive and well.”
Members of the public were advised to disregard the death rumour.
“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are FALSE.
“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.
“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.
“Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR), Chairman Board of Trustee Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), is alive and well.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the notice disclosed.
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