Nigeria's CANEX 2026 to Boost Creative Sector Investments

The Federal Government announced that the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX WKND) will extend beyond showcasing Nigeria’s creative talents to foster investments, jobs, and business partnerships. Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, made this statement during a joint ministerial briefing at the ITF Skills House in Maitama, Abuja.

She emphasized that CANEX serves as a strategic economic platform to enhance Africa’s creative economy and provide Nigeria with a chance to display its creative capabilities globally. Musawa noted that the establishment of her ministry by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signifies the government's acknowledgment of the creative sector's economic potential.

She highlighted the symbolic choice of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos as the venue for CANEX, linking it to the legacy of FESTAC ’77. The event aims to showcase Nigeria's creative content and the reforms necessary for international competitiveness.

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, added that CANEX is crucial for connecting creative industries to finance and international markets.