Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
Let me start by expressing my appreciation to the organisers – Mighty Media Plus Network Limited and QEDNG for the invitation to chair this summit, and for the vision that has birthed this important platform for dialogue and development in Nigeria’s creative sector.
QEDNG has steadily grown into a reputable voice in Nigeria’s media and digital journalism space through its commitment to telling authentic stories, amplifying emerging voices, and shaping conversations that reflect our evolving national identity. Its journey mirrors the core theme of this summit: unlocking potential through vision and purpose.
The creative industry in Nigeria is one of our most vibrant and resilient sectors. It is dynamic, bold, expressive, and deeply rooted in the rich diversity of our culture and our people. Our musicians fill global arenas. Our actors tell compelling stories that cross borders. Our designers and visual artists reinterpret African heritage for the world stage. And our content creators are shaping digital narratives that influence millions daily.
Yet, despite this abundance of talent and the undeniable economic value of creativity, we face a persistent challenge: financing.
The theme of this summit, “Financing as Catalyst for a Thriving Creative Economy”, is therefore not only timely but necessary. Because without access to sustainable and strategic funding, creativity struggles to scale. Ideas remain trapped in notebooks. Studios shut down. Talent goes untrained. And potential remains just that – potential!
Capital is required to unlock the potential of our Creative Economy. Capital must be made available and accessible to creative entrepreneurs to not only launch their enterprises, but to scale to levels where they can enjoy economies of scale.
We cannot build a thriving creative economy if access to capital remains restricted, misunderstood, or misaligned with the realities of the creative process. Financing must be responsive, flexible, and intentional. It must be designed not merely to support consumption, but to enable production, distribution, and protection of creative output.
The issue is not just about throwing money at the industry. It is about smart financing. It is about investors who understand the long tail of content development, banks willing to develop products tailored for creative entrepreneurs, governments designing policy environments that reward innovation and risk-taking, and private sector leaders championing scalable, locally relevant business models.
It is also about data. We need a stronger evidence base to inform decisions, attract investments, and demonstrate the social and economic impact of the creative economy. We need to measure value, not just in terms of box office numbers or streaming statistics but in terms of job creation, export growth, community engagement, and cultural preservation.
As a creative industry stakeholder myself, I understand the roadblocks, but I also see immense opportunity. And I know that when we get it right, when the ideas meet the funding, when the storytellers meet the investors, when policy meets purpose – magic happens!
To truly optimise their potential, creative entrepreneurs must invest in personal development. They must invest in basic financial literacy and understand the basic rules of business management. They need to evolve from being craftsmen to being businessmen. Getting money from investors or from financial institutions implies risk. Creative entrepreneurs must give their financial backers the confidence that funding made available to them is in safe hands.
This summit offers us a unique opportunity to have the right conversations with the right people in the room. Policymakers, financiers, media leaders, creators, and visionaries. I urge us to approach this dialogue not as an academic exercise, but as a strategic imperative. Let us ask difficult questions:
How do we de-risk investment in the creative sector?
What models of financing are working in other African or global markets, and what can we learn?
How do we protect intellectual property in the digital age?
What roles can cooperatives, equity funding, crowdfunding, and digital banking play in the ecosystem?
How do we ensure that the next generation of creatives has access to the tools, skills, and capital they need to thrive?
As Chairman of today’s summit, I believe we must not only talk about the challenges, we must commit to action. Whether through the creation of an industry-wide creative investment fund, improved policy frameworks, or a collaborative task force to continue the conversation beyond this room, we must walk away from today with a shared responsibility.
I am particularly encouraged by the quality of minds represented here today. Nigeria is not short of talent, nor vision. What we must now do is ensure the ecosystem around that talent is equipped, structured, and empowered to support long-term growth.
Let me close with this thought: Creativity is more than entertainment; it is identity, it is influence, and it is industry. If we truly wish to diversify Nigeria’s economy and empower our youth, then investing in creativity is not a luxury – it is a necessity! It is a low-hanging fruit that can transform our bulging youth demographics into a great national asset.
Thank you once again to QEDNG and the entire organising team for this honour. I look forward to the conversations, insights, and solutions that will emerge today, and more importantly, to the collective actions we will take afterwards.
Let us rise to the challenge. Let us invest in our creative future. And let us build an economy that not only consumes creativity but champions and exports it.
Thank you, and I wish you all a productive summit.
Mr Udeme Ufot, MFR is the Group Managing Director of SO&U
August 12, 2025; Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos
