Digital Creator Africa Summit Debuts with Chude Jideonwo’s $500,000 Creator Fund

Digital Creator Africa Summit Debuts with Chude Jideonwo’s $500,000 Creator Fund

Lagos, Nigeria – September 22, 2025

The first-ever Digital Creator Africa (DCA) Summit has officially launched in Lagos, setting a new benchmark for Africa’s fast-growing creator economy. The landmark event, held on September 18 at the Africa Creative Market (ACM), Landmark Village, Victoria Island, brought together leading creators, creatives, brands, and cultural voices from across the continent.

The summit’s headline moment came from media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, who unveiled the Fourth Mainland Creator Fund, a pioneering $500,000 initiative to provide direct capital to African creators. Unlike traditional grant or mentorship programs, the fund will invest in individuals, prioritizing innovators with bold visions and the potential to scale into global media brands.

“Grants do not build empires. Mentorship does not scale industries. Capital does,” Jideonwo said during his keynote themed “Overtaking is Allowed.” He added: “Creators do not need permission; they need people betting on them in a systemic pattern.”

Funded with nearly ₦1 billion of Jideonwo’s personal resources, the Creator Fund will begin operations in January 2026. It will be platform-agnostic—supporting talents across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Substack, and more. Managed by Joy Inc., under new CEO Jennifer Mairo, the initiative will also introduce what Jideonwo described as a “record label for creators,” designed to amplify African voices on the global stage.

Summit Highlights

The event featured multiple spotlight sessions exploring strategies, opportunities, and challenges for Africa’s creative economy:

• Tomike Adeoye shared her transition from influencer to entrepreneur.
• Chichi Nworah and Mykel Parish discussed building cross-border creative empires.
• David Adeleke, Obi Asika (DG, NCAC), and Ifeoma ‘Oma Areh dissected insights from the Nigeria Creative Economy Report.
• Orji Emmanuel (Tyla E) and Ayobami Oyaleke (Mainstack) led a session on monetizing creator brands.
• Malik Afegbua spotlighted the role of AI in the future of creativity.
• A panel on sponsorships and brand partnerships, led by Charles Ugochukwu Born, featured Mabel Adeteye, Franklin Ozekhome, Abiola Fabio, and Olufemi Oguntamu.
• The Digital Box Office panel explored African storytelling in streaming, with Jesimiel Damina, Ariyike Owolagba, Dami Dawson, and Oguntamu.
• Tosin Ajibade (Olorisupergal), David I. Adeleke, Uchechi Ihuoma, and Sisi Yemmie shared insights on niche creator profitability.
• The UGC Panel, featuring Tessy Olota, Toniloba Itabiyi, Victoire Mahounou, and Ama Udofa, examined community-building as the core of influence.

Moderators included Yolanda Okereke, Charles Ugochukwu Born, Mykel Parish, and Deji Garuba, while Isabella Adediji and Grand Prince Ita hosted the summit.

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A New Chapter for Africa’s Creative Economy

Convener Ifeoma ‘Oma Areh described the summit as a watershed moment for the continent:

“Digital Creator Africa is proof that Africa’s creator economy is no longer on the margins; it is at the center. From skit makers to filmmakers, food influencers to educators, digital product builders to AI enthusiasts, we are showing the full spectrum of talent and giving them the systems, structures, and now capital they need to thrive.”

Supported by Africa Creative Market (ACM)—the continent’s premier platform for trade and creative partnerships—alongside The WildFlower Company, WildFlower PR, WildPepper Studios, Mainstack, The Orange Group, and CWAY Group, the DCA Summit reinforced Africa’s position as a hub for creative and digital innovation.

With the launch of the Fourth Mainland Creator Fund, the continent’s creators now stand on the cusp of a new era, one where African talent is not only celebrated but also strategically financed to compete globally.