African leaders and industry figures have called for greater financing, stronger intellectual property protection and better market access so the continent can capture more value from its fast-growing creative industries.

The call featured at the opening of the four-day Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 in Lagos, where Vice President Kashim Shettima challenged African countries to move beyond celebrating their cultural influence and start building profitable businesses and lasting wealth from their creative talent. Declaring the event open on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima said Africa must turn global recognition of its culture into concrete economic opportunities.

The gathering, organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) through its Creative Africa Nexus programme and hosted by the Government of Nigeria, runs from 5 to 8 November at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Iganmu, Lagos. More than 15,000 delegates from Africa, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora are attending.

Afreximbank has committed 2 billion US dollars through 2027 to support the continent's creative and cultural industries. Its president, George Elombi, said Africa's music, film, fashion and art have won worldwide audiences, but the continent must gain greater control over the businesses and rights that generate income from that popularity. Citing estimates by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, he put the continent's creative economy at approximately 60 billion dollars, about two per cent of the global creative industry.

Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said proposed transactions worth more than 500 million dollars were already under discussion through deal rooms co-curated with Afreximbank. She added that more than 600 million dollars in financing is being unlocked for digital and creative enterprises.

Saturday's programme includes a headline concert featuring Davido, Fally Ipupa and Flavour.

[Source: insightwirenews.com](https://insightwirenews.com/canex-wknd-2026-africa-targets-bigger-share-of-60bn-creative-economy/) | [Source: hcntimes.com](https://hcntimes.com/canex-wknd-2026-opens-in-lagos/)