Moniepoint Inc has announced its sponsorship of Nigeria’s inaugural federally supported pavilion, “Hopes and Impediments,” at the London Design Biennale 2025
Named after critically reflective essays by Chinua Achebe, renowned Nigerian novelist and poet, the pavilion represents a milestone as Nigeria’s first federally supported cultural exhibition of this scale.
Curated and designed by Myles Ikenna Igwebuike with visual direction and programming by Founder of Culture Lab Africa, Itohan Barlow, “Hopes and Impediments” which is supported by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, challenges conventional narratives of cultural permanence while exploring how heritage, loss, and reinvention shape societal evolution.
This fifth edition of the London Design Biennale takes place at the home of UK’s largest creative community, Somerset House.
“At Moniepoint, we believe that true financial happiness stems from understanding and celebrating our roots while boldly engineering the future,” said vice president, Corporate Affairs, Moniepoint Inc, Didi Uwemakpan,. “Our sponsorship of ‘Hopes and Impediments’ reflects our commitment to powering not just the financial dreams of Africans everywhere, but also the cultural and creative aspirations that define our collective identity. We are proud to partner with the Nigeria Pavilion to celebrate our heritage and showcase our creative ingenuity to the world.”
At the core of the Nigerian Pavillion is the ancient site of Lejja in Enugu State, one of the oldest iron-smelting locations in the world. The Pavilion leverages Heritage Data including digital reconstructions and immersive experiences to reimagine Lejja’s 2,000-year history as a platform for future innovation.
The Pavilion is part of Nigeria’s broader strategic plan to position its creative economy as a key growth sector, with a target contribution of $100 billion to GDP by 2030.
Alongside Moniepoint, other partners supporting the Pavilion include Center For Memories, Nteje Studios, Rollingstones Africa, Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), Royal College of Art, London, The Africa Centre, Leadway Holdings, Value Africa, Pedro’s Africa, Pikd, ArtSVP. The administering bodies are, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Centre For Black and African Arts and Civilization and Nigeria High Commission, London.
“Moniepoint’s support enables us to tell a powerful story, one of history, transformation, and future potential,” said Itohan Barlow Ndukuba, Project Lead and Founder of Culture Lab Africa. “We are excited to work together to elevate Nigeria’s global visibility and unlock opportunities for the creative sector.”
The London Design Biennale 2025 opens on June 5th, with the Nigerian Pavilion set to be one of the most anticipated features in this year’s global showcase of design innovation.
