Federal Govt Targets Trade, Investment, Jobs Through Creative Economy

The federal government has said it is targeting increased trade, investment and job creation through the creative economy as Nigeria prepares to host the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend in Lagos.

The minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this at a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on preparations for the event scheduled for November 5 to 8.

Oduwole said CANEX was more than a celebration of African creativity, describing it as a platform for trade, investment, enterprise and market access.

She said the federal government’s priority was to ensure that Nigeria’s creative talent translated into sustainable businesses, intellectual property, exports and jobs.

According to her, Nigeria has significant strengths in fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, sports, music, film and technology, and the government wants to connect these sectors to finance, investors, distribution networks, technology and international markets.

“CANEX must translate connections into transactions,” she said.

Oduwole said the event would bring together creators, businesses, investors, financiers, policymakers, distributors and market-access partners, creating opportunities for partnerships, financing and expansion of Nigerian creative enterprises beyond the country.

She said more than 10,000 participants were expected at CANEX 2026 and expressed confidence that Nigeria would break previous CANEX records.

The minister said all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would have pavilion spaces at the event to showcase their creative industries and cultural offerings.

She said the hosting of CANEX was a whole-of-government effort involving the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Customs, Immigration, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Theatre and the Lagos State Government.

Oduwole said Lagos would also host the Intra-African Trade Fair in 2027, which she said was expected to attract more than 100,000 participants.

She explained that the two events formed part of Nigeria’s broader ambition to position the country as a leading destination for African trade, investment and enterprise.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, said the Nigeria Police Force was being involved early in the preparations to ensure adequate security for the international participants expected in Lagos.

Disu said security was critical to the success of the event, noting that visitors would be coming to Nigeria from different parts of the world.

He said the Commissioner of Police and the AIG in charge of Zone 2 had been tasked with ensuring adequate security arrangements.

“We have time to plan,” the IGP said, adding that participants would experience standard policing and officers who were prepared to welcome visitors to Nigeria.

Disu also said he had asked the minister to provide a pavilion for the police to showcase its security operations during the event.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye said the ministry was working with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other government agencies to mobilise international participation.

He said information about CANEX would be disseminated to diplomatic missions in Nigeria and Nigerian missions abroad to encourage participation from across Africa and other parts of the world.

He added that the ministry was working with immigration authorities to facilitate seamless visa processing for participants.

According to him, the ministry would also coordinate protocol and ushering arrangements to ensure smooth movement of participants upon arrival and at the venue.

The Minister of State described CANEX as an opportunity to deploy Nigeria’s creative resources as an element of the country’s soft power and diplomacy.

He said the government wanted to harness Nigeria’s creative talents, which had often operated individually, to support the country’s foreign-policy objectives and national interests.

CANEX Weekend 2026 will be held in Lagos from November 5 to 8, with activities spanning music, film, fashion, gastronomy, literature, visual arts, sports, and technology, alongside investment, financing, and market-access engagements.