L-R, Head of Arts Nigeria, Harry Keseina; Programme Director, British Council, Chikodi Onyemerela; Regional Arts Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council, Farai Ncube; Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Donna McGowan; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE), Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, MFR; and Director of Creative Economy, (FMACTCE), Ugochi Akudo-Nwosu at the Creative Economy Week Nigeria 2025 Press Conference, held at British Council, Abuja
The British Council, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE), is proud to announce Creative Economy Week Nigeria 2025, a landmark six-city celebration of innovation, skills, and collaboration under the theme ‘Building Futures through Creativity.’
Launched officially on 11 September 2025 in Abuja, Creative Economy Week will span Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, and London, bringing together artists, creative entrepreneurs, cultural hubs, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and international partners. The event series will showcase the power of creativity and culture as catalysts for inclusive economic growth, youth empowerment, and global connection.
This will be the second edition of Creative Economy Week in Nigeria, following the successful pilot held in 2023. 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 Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, 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.
• 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, Donna McGowan, British Council Country Director for Nigeria and West Africa Cluster Lead, said: ‘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.’
Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, MFR, mni, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE), added: ‘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.’
Creative Economy Week Nigeria 2025 will run from 11 to 21 September across five Nigerian cities, before culminating in a landmark London showcase on 11 October, a platform designed to spotlight diaspora voices, strengthen international collaboration, and forge new opportunities for global creative exchange.
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