A Conference For Nigerian Creatives

The Nigerian creative industry, though in existence for a long time, is yet to create an equipoise between the numerous problems facing it and its growth. Despite its potential to be a wealth creation machine for Nigeria, it is sadly one of those industries that have not enjoyed a lot of support from the government and some investors.

Eunice Omole, Jane Maduegbuna, Matthew Okoduwa

This has prompted some private organisations and individuals to take steps to tackle some of those problems themselves through the creation of platforms that aim at creating opportunities and an enabling environment for creatives to display their creativity and, possibly, make money from it.

One of such platforms is the Creative Content Conference that was held on the 4th of August at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos which saw stakeholders in the creative industry come together to discuss and find ways to work together for the growth and development of the industry. Convened by Vortex Africa, the conference was aimed at connecting TV networks and online distribution platforms with content creators and production studios.

Chigul, BB Sasore, Patrick Diabuah Banana Island Ghost team

The first of its kind in Nigeria with a content market as part of its events, the Creative Content Conference, which aims to hold in August of every year, had a number of interactive panel sessions with top executives of organisations such as EbonyLife TV, Afrinolly, National Broadcasting Commission, and other stakeholders in the creative industry such as filmmakers, film houses, entertainment lawyers, actors, animators, and more.

IREP and Obi Asika

The conference room was comfortable, the energy was infectious, and the panels were interactive, allowing engagements on topics that ranged from problems facing the industry to suggestions of solutions that could help solve these problems. And during the breaks in between every panel session, the hum of conversations and laughter of those networking was enough to motivate even the most introverted creative to mingle and form connections for themselves and their businesses.

No man is an island. A familiar sentence whose meaning goes beyond reference to a single man. Reaching across personal relationships to more complex relationships as career and business. Even the business of creativity is affected by it. Very little can be achieved without the connection that platforms such as this can facilitate, both for the established organisations and the up and coming creatives trying to find their way in the industry and the world.

Zubby Emodi and David Anga

While we wait to see the result of the recent ‘pioneer status’ granted by the Federal Government to investors in the creative industry, platforms such as this are helping, to not only reveal the problems inherent in the creative industry from the point of view of the stakeholders, but also to aid the emerging creatives and enthusiasts have a clear picture of what they are venturing into, while creating a conducive environment for parties to connect for the growth of the creative industry.