Lagos Restates Strong Backing for Creative Industry at African Music Business Summit

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the entertainment and creative economy, pledging increased investments and targeted interventions to consolidate the State’s position as Africa’s foremost creative hub.

The assurance was given on Thursday, January 9, 2026, at the African Music Business Summit held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The summit formed part of activities marking the ninth edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and brought together key players from Africa’s music industry, global stakeholders, policymakers and creatives.

Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, outlined Lagos State’s strategic focus on the creative economy, describing it as a critical driver of jobs, youth empowerment and economic diversification.

She disclosed that the State spent ₦8.4 billion in the last financial year supporting the creative sector through concerts, training programmes, capacity-building initiatives and production support across music, film and allied industries. According to her, public funding for the sector has expanded significantly, growing from ₦3.8 billion before 2023 to ₦18 billion, with projections nearing ₦40 billion as demand and economic impact continue to rise.

The Commissioner also unveiled plans for a Lagos Talent Hunt designed to identify and develop emerging artists across the State. As part of the initiative, she said government-owned theatres would be converted into cinemas and music studios, providing young creatives with free access to professional production and recording facilities.

Emphasising collaboration, Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka said the State operates an open-door policy, urging creatives and industry stakeholders to submit proposals, partner with government agencies and contribute to policy discussions shaping the sector’s future.

She noted that Lagos has supported over 140 creative projects and organisations, hosted large-scale free public events attracting more than 100,000 residents, and continues to deploy the creative economy as a tool for inclusion, innovation and sustainable growth.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, commended the leadership of the Commissioner and reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to produce globally competitive creative talent from Lagos.

She encouraged practitioners to engage the Ministry through official channels, submit viable proposals and leverage opportunities created by public investment, stressing that government support is aimed at nurturing world-class talent capable of competing on the global stage.

Mrs. Oyekan-Ismaila also urged creatives to follow official Lagos State tourism and creative economy platforms to stay informed about funding opportunities, programmes and industry developments.