Woodhall Capital, a financial Services firm, has continued to break boundaries in ensuring access for Nigerian brands to funding.
This was demonstrated recently at a fireside chat with the President and founder of the firm, Moji Hunponu-Wusu, during the second edition of Lagos Canvas, a platform organised as a melting pot to celebrate and bridge music, film, fashion, and art, held at the residence of the Deputy British High Commissioner, Ikoyi, Lagos, on 19 January 2025.
The event, organised by EbonyLife Media, was graced by the executive governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Lagos Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and several stakeholders in the Nigerian creative industry.
In his speech, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, revealed the United Kingdom’s readiness to collaborate with Nigeria in terms of investments in the creative industry.
“We are working with the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to focus on certain sectors where we can build partnerships and grow trading relations between the UK and Nigeria, and also to develop expertise in Nigeria,” Baxter said.
The CEO of EbonyLife Media, Mo Abudu, while welcoming the guests, stated that the essence of Lagos Canvas is to ensure that the next generation is supported in music, film, fashion, and art.
In his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos is more than just concrete and traffic; it is a vibrant tapestry woven with countless stories. From the pulsating rhythm of Afrobeats that echoes through the streets to the vibrant hues of local fabrics that adorn our markets, this city truly breathes creativity.
“Lagos is a place where innovation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the lifeblood of our unyielding entrepreneurial spirit. Tonight, therefore, we honour the visionaries, the artists, the innovators who have painted this vibrant canvas, shaping the narrative of our city and inspiring the world,” the governor said.
The governor also praised the commitment of the event sponsors, particularly Woodhall Capital, emphasising that the firm has always been intentional in promoting and supporting the creative industry.
During the fireside chat, Hunponu-Wusu, responding to a question on the audacious creative bank being proposed, emphasised that nobody can tell the African story like Africans.
“Nobody is coming to save us if we don’t stand up and build our own table. And as I always say, if not me, who? And if not now, when? All the countries we admire, their forefathers paid the price for the success and the amazing things that you see. We are someone else’s forefathers, so we will pay the price. Home is where the solution is, and if not Woodhall Capital, who will do it?” she remarked.
The President of Woodhall Capital also stated that making funding African will further help unleash the creative ingenuity of African talents.
“A Creative Bank becomes necessary because, oftentimes, I see creatives validated only when they achieve success overseas. We can have a number one hit song here, but we have been programmed to believe it is a success only when people abroad validate us. This is because funding dictates the direction of what you do. And so now, there is African funding through Woodhall Capital,” she explained.