The Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) will confer the Excellence in Cultural Innovation and Global Creative Industry Trailblazer Award on filmmaker Bolanle Austen-Peters.
In a statement dated April 20, the chamber said the honour is in recognition of her work in inspiring Nigerian creativity, promoting Africa’s cultural influence and expanding the reach of African stories through theatre, film and other creative ventures.
Previous recipients of the Creative Economy Award include Mo Abudu, Richard Mofe-Damijo and Femi Odugbemi.
The award will be presented at the chamber’s April 2026 international roundtable themed “Policy and Governance Reforms in Nigeria’s Immigration and Border Management Sector.” The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10am at Legend Hotel Lagos Airport Curio Collection by Hilton.
Austen-Peters is a Nigerian lawyer, film and theatre producer, director and cultural entrepreneur. She founded Terra Kulture in 2003. The centre has grown into a major arts hub with a restaurant, art gallery, bookstore, language school, film production studio and four theatres.
According to the chamber, Terra Kulture has hosted more than 300 art exhibitions, 200 stage productions and 100 book readings, while supporting thousands of creatives and theatre professionals.
CNN has described her as “the woman pioneering theatre in Nigeria,” while Forbes Afrique has listed her among the Most Influential Women in Africa.
Through her company BAP Productions, Austen-Peters has produced films including 93 Days, The Bling Lagosians, Man of God, Collision Course, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and House of Ga’a. The latter ranked in Netflix global top 10 and reached number one in 12 countries.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti has been screened at institutions such as Harvard University and University of Westminster. In 2025, she released Wire Wire.
Her stage productions Waaka the Musical, Saro the Musical, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens and Death and the King’s Horseman have toured cities including London, Egypt, South Africa and Dubai.
The filmmaker also established the Terra Academy for the Arts in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The academy provides free training in film, theatre and entrepreneurship and aims to train 65,000 young Nigerians in five years.
The chamber said more than 50,000 young people have enrolled so far, with over 21,000 integrated into the workforce.
She has spoken at platforms such as the Financial Times Africa Summit, the London School of Economics and the NYU Stern School of Business, where she advocates for the growth of Africa’s creative industries.
Austen-Peters is a fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds degrees from the London School of Economics, the Nigerian Law School and the University of Lagos. Her honours include recognition as a Fellow of Theatre Arts in 2024 and awards at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
National president of the chamber Sheriff Balogun will host the event. The special guest of honour is the permanent secretary of the ministry of interior Magdalene Ajani, who will deliver the keynote.
Other expected participants include comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Service Kemi Nandap; director general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority Ola Awakan; and director general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Eghosa Osaghae.
Panelists include director general of the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association Adewale Smatt Oyerinde; president of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria Badaki Aliyu; managing consultant at Zigona Advisory Ngozi Ngoka; and executive secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Aisha Rimi.
The session will be moderated by Pamilerin Akabunwa of Moroom Africa and the Nigerian Immigration Lawyers Association.
The chamber said the award and roundtable, sponsored by Legend Hotel Lagos Airport Curio Collection by Hilton, reflect its commitment to promoting cultural and economic development while addressing policy issues in Nigeria.
The statement was signed by deputy president of the chamber Ehi Braimah.
