The sophomore edition of the Creative Economy Week Nigeria 2025 has official kicked off and the train will touchdown in five Nigerian cities and a British city courtesy the British Council and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
This year’s event is themed Building Futures through Creativity and it is designed to celebrate innovation, skills, and collaboration in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, and London, bringing together artists, creative entrepreneurs, cultural hubs, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and international partners.
It will run from September 11 to 21 across five Nigerian cities, before culminating in a landmark London showcase on October 11, a platform designed to spotlight diaspora voices, strengthen international collaboration, and forge new opportunities for global creative exchange.
The event series will showcase the power of creativity and culture as catalysts for inclusive economic growth, youth empowerment, and global connection, according to the organisers at the launch last Thursday.
The first edition of Creative Economy Week in Nigeria took place in 2023 and it was very successful, inspiring the commencement of the second edition.
Since its inception, the programme has expanded beyond Nigeria, inspiring Creative Economy Weeks in Uganda, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, making it one of the British Council’s most dynamic cultural economy initiatives in Africa.
The 2025 edition also comes on the backdrop of a strengthened partnership between the British Council and the Nigerian government, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year.
This MoU reflects both organisations’ shared commitment to advancing Nigeria’s creative economy, building international connections, and scaling opportunities for youth, women, and the wider creative sector.
The programme includes high-level policy dialogues and networking sessions with government leaders, industry stakeholders, and UK partners; masterclasses and workshops on film, TV, photography, music, fashion, and creative entrepreneurship; craft sessions in batik making, leatherworks, and fibreglass sculpting; creative pop-up markets and art showcases spotlighting Nigerian talent; and major conferences in Lagos focusing on women in film, creative technology, investment, legal frameworks, education, and the future of the creative economy.
Speaking on the partnership, the British Council Country Director for Nigeria and West Africa Cluster Lead, Donna McGowan, “For the British Council, youth employability and entrepreneurship are central to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, and the creative economy plays a vital role in making this possible. This year’s collaboration with the Ministry reflects our joint commitment to ensuring that the creative economy continues to drive jobs, innovation, and inclusive growth.”
Also commenting, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE), Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, said, “Nigeria’s creative economy is one of the most dynamic in the world. By working with the British Council, we are building pathways for our talent to thrive, not only within Nigeria but on a global scale. Together, we are truly building futures through creativity.”