Experts Seek Funding, Skills To Unlock Northern Creative Economy

Experts in Nigeria’s creative industry have called for improved access to funding and skills development to unlock the economic potential of practitioners, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

The experts made the call at the 2026 Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre, which ended last Friday.

The two-day summit, the first National Theatre Creative Summit held outside Lagos, brought together creative economy practitioners for sessions on funding, financial literacy, intellectual property and practical skills.

At a session on intellectual property, the chief strategic adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs to the Kaduna State Governor and chairman of Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori, urged the creatives to document their works to establish ownership and protect their rights.

“Many creatives lose their rights because they fail to document their works before releasing them,” Maikori said.

Also speaking on financial fitness and business structures, Bayo Omoboriowo, Founder of Madhouse by Tikera Africa, stressed the importance of sound financial management and proper business structures in attracting investors and accessing funding.

Omoboriowo urged creative practitioners to treat their activities as businesses capable of attracting investment rather than merely as artistic pursuits.

Edward Israel-Ayide, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Carpe Diem Solutions, advised creatives to build visibility around genuine expertise rather than self-promotion.

He said, “A strong reputation could open career opportunities even when practitioners were not physically present in decision-making spaces.”

The Kano State Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Aisha Lawan Saji Rano, who represented the state government, highlighted the economic potential of Kano’s cultural heritage.

She cited the Kofar Mata dye pits and the ancient city walls as examples of the state’s heritage that could be leveraged for economic development.

Speaking at the opening of the summit, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre (Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts), Tola Akerele, said the choice of Kano was deliberate.

Akerele said the summit was designed to decentralise access to the tools, knowledge and opportunities driving the creative economy and make them available to practitioners across the country.

She said Kano was selected in recognition of its significant contribution to Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly through Kannywood and its long-standing performing arts tradition.

The summit was organised in partnership with the European Union, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) and the Kano State Government.