By Augustine Ehikioya
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has said that the Federal Government is positioning creative industries as core part of Nigeria’s trade and export agenda to achieve one-trillion-dollar economy.
Speaking at briefing on CANEX Weekend 2026, Oduwole said for Nigeria, Creative Africa Nexus, CANEX, is much more than celebration of creativity, but platform for trade, investment, enterprise and market access.
“Through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Federal Executive Council, all state governments as hosts, Nigerian Governors’ Forum and National Economic Council, we are here to tell Nigeria, Africa and world that Nigeria is hosting CANEX,” she said.
She said Nigeria has fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, sports and wider creative economy, priority is to ensure talent translates into sustainable businesses, intellectual property, exports and jobs.
“The way world trades are changing. Increasingly, value is being created not only through physical goods, but through services, technology, content, IP and culture. Nigeria is already major source of African music, film, fashion and creative content. Opportunity is to capture more of economic value,” she said.
She said CANEX must translate connections into transactions, bringing ecosystem together – creators, businesses, investors, financiers, policymakers, distributors and market-access partners.
“Our message is simple: we want partnerships formed, financing mobilised, IP commercialised, businesses entering new markets and Nigerian creative enterprises scaling beyond borders,” she said.
On the prospect for Lagos to host 10,000 participants, Oduwole said Lagos will become meeting point for Africa and global creative economy from November 5-8, with conversations across music, film, fashion, gastronomy, literature, visual arts, sports and technology, alongside investment and market-access engagements.
She said every state will have pavilion in addition to private sector, showcasing enterprise, culture and innovation. Iconic National Theatre, built for FESTAC ’77, has been revamped for event, marking 50th anniversary of its construction.
According to her, delivering CANEX requires whole-of-government approach involving Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Customs, Immigration, CBN, National Theatre and Lagos State Government.
