WITH the theme Financing as Catalyst for a Thriving Creative Economy, the maiden QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit, holding Tuesday, November 12, is set to redefine the fortune and status of the Nigerian creative industry.
Holding from 10 am Tuesday, August 12 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, the summit, to be chaired by Udeme Ufot, group managing director of SO&U, as chairman, will have Dr Nkiru Balonwu, founder of The Africa Soft Power Group, as keynote speaker.
It will feature a sterling cast of speakers: ace film-maker, Kunle Afolayan, the communication scholar and current Executive Director of Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, entertainment entrepreneur Mike Dada, theatre producer and investment banker Joseph Edgar and creative industry advocate Mary Ephraim-Egbas. It will be moderated by the journalist and media manager, Steve Ayorinde, former Lagos Commissioner for Information, and later Tourism, Arts and Culture, TAC.
At the weekend, Providus Bank and Polaris Bank were announced to have joined First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria LNG (NLNG) and Shell in supporting the Summit.
Confirming the development in a statement on Friday, Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, publishers of the online newspaper QEDNG, and hosts of the summit, said the sponsorship affirms a strong show of belief in Nigeria’s creative sector.
The summit will gather creatives, investors, policymakers, and business leaders. Discussions will focus on practical solutions to the funding challenges facing Nigeria’s creative industries, stated the convener, Olumide Iyanda, CEO of Mighty Media Media Plus Network Limited, the host of the Summit.
Speaking on the addition of the two banks, Iyanda said, “Providus Bank’s support is a demonstration of its strong commitment to promoting the creative industry,” Iyanda said. “Through its partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the N5billion Creative Fund, the bank has supported filmmakers and other creatives.”
Iyanda explained that the Creative Fund was created to address the challenges of traditional bank financing by offering a more flexible and accessible model. The goal, he said, is to make funding easier for creators while ensuring accountability and long-term impact.
“By joining us as a sponsor, Providus Bank is reaffirming that creativity is not just an art; it is a serious business that can grow jobs, drive innovation and shape our economy,” he added.
Providus Bank is also known for promoting creativity, culture and community through events such as the World Poetry Day celebration and The Hive.
On Polaris Bank, Iyanda commended its N1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund launched in partnership with Woodhall Capital, the Lagos State Government and the United Kingdom. The initiative is designed to give entrepreneurs in fashion, film, music, and digital content better access to structured financing.
“Polaris Bank’s work in this space is a perfect fit for what we are doing,” Iyanda said. “They are investing in people who have the ideas, the talent and the drive to tell authentic stories, build strong brands and export Nigerian culture to the world.”
He also praised the bank’s Creative Currency Podcast. “The podcast is a smart move. It connects creatives with those who can fund, guide, and open doors for them. That is exactly the kind of bridge we want this summit to build.”
FirstBank, NLNG and Shell are also backing the summit. Iyanda said FirstBank’s support builds on its long-running First@arts initiative, which has financed, advised, and promoted Nigerian creatives and cultural events. NLNG, he noted, is celebrated for its prestigious prizes in literature, science and literary criticism, each rewarding excellence and innovation. Shell’s contribution reflects its commitment to education and community-focused development.