NACC Honours Bolanle Austen-Peters for Creative Industry Impact

The Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce is set to recognise renowned cultural entrepreneur Bolanle Austen-Peters for her significant contributions to Africa’s creative sector and her role in elevating Nigerian storytelling on the global stage.

Austen-Peters will receive the Excellence in Cultural Innovation and Global Creative Industry Trailblazer Award at the Chamber’s International Roundtable scheduled for April 23, 2026, in Lagos. The event will focus on policy and governance reforms within Nigeria’s immigration and border management system.

The honour places her among a distinguished group of past recipients, including Mo Abudu, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and Femi Odugbemi.

Widely regarded as a driving force behind Nigeria’s modern theatre revival, Austen-Peters founded Terra Kulture in 2003, transforming it into a leading hub for theatre, visual arts, and cultural education.

Through her production company, BAP Productions, she has delivered several acclaimed films such as 93 Days, The Bling Lagosians, and House of Ga’a, many of which have achieved international distribution success.

Her stage productions, including Saro the Musical and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, have toured globally, expanding the reach of Nigerian theatre across multiple continents.

Beyond production, she has invested heavily in talent development through the Terra Academy for the Arts, a programme designed to equip young Nigerians with skills in film, theatre, and creative enterprise.

The upcoming roundtable is expected to convene top government officials, policymakers, and private sector leaders to examine how reforms in immigration and border systems can enhance trade, tourism, and bilateral engagement between Nigeria and the United States.

Organisers say the recognition underscores the growing importance of the creative industry as a pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification and global cultural influence.