Lagos Reaffirms Commitment to Creative Economy at African Music Business Summit

Lagos Reaffirms Commitment to Creative Economy at African Music Business Summit

The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to strengthening the entertainment and creative economy sectors, pledging increased investments and policy support to further consolidate the State’s position as Africa’s leading 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, as part of activities marking the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

The summit brought together key stakeholders from the African and global music industries, policymakers, institutions and creatives to deliberate on strategies for building a sustainable and globally competitive African music business ecosystem.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said the State has continued to make deliberate investments in the creative sector due to its growing economic importance.

According to her, Lagos State spent ₦8.4 billion in the last financial year supporting the creative industry through concerts, training and capacity-building programmes, as well as production support across music, film and other creative sub-sectors.

She disclosed that government funding for the sector has grown significantly, increasing from ₦3.8 billion before 2023 to ₦18 billion, with projections now approaching ₦40 billion, reflecting rising demand and the sector’s contribution to the State’s economy.

Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka also announced plans for a Lagos Talent Hunt aimed at discovering and nurturing emerging artists across the State. She revealed that government-owned theatres would be converted into cinemas and music studios, providing young creatives with free access to professional recording and production facilities.

Reaffirming the State’s commitment to partnership and transparency, the Commissioner said Lagos operates an open-door policy that allows creatives to submit proposals, collaborate with the Ministry and participate in policy discussions shaping the industry.

She added that the State has supported over 140 creative projects and organisations, hosted large-scale free public events attended by more than 100,000 residents, and continues to deploy the creative economy as a tool for youth empowerment, social inclusion and economic growth.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, commended the leadership of the Commissioner and reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to producing globally competitive creative talents from Lagos.

She urged industry practitioners to engage the Ministry through its official platforms, submit viable proposals and take advantage of opportunities created through public investment.

“We want to create more Burna Boys and more Davidos — global icons trained with taxpayers’ money and celebrated on the world stage,” she said.

Mrs. Oyekan-Ismaila also encouraged creatives to follow official Lagos State tourism and creative economy social media platforms to stay informed on funding windows, programmes and emerging opportunities.