The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the entertainment, creative economy and hospitality sectors, announcing plans to deepen investments aimed at consolidating the state’s position as Africa’s leading creative hub.
The assurance was given on Thursday, January 9, 2026, at the African Music Business Summit held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The summit formed part of activities marking the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
The event brought together key stakeholders from the African and global music industry, policymakers, institutions and creatives to deliberate on strategies for expanding Africa’s music business ecosystem and enhancing its global competitiveness.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Government and representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, outlined the state’s policy direction and rising financial commitment to the creative economy.
According to her, Lagos State expended about ₦8.4 billion in the last financial year to support the creative sector through concerts, capacity-building programmes, training initiatives and production support across music, film and other creative industries.
She disclosed that government funding for the sector has grown significantly, rising from ₦3.8 billion before 2023 to ₦18 billion, with projections nearing ₦40 billion, underscoring the sector’s expanding economic relevance and the need for structured public support.
Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka also announced plans to launch a Lagos Talent Hunt designed to discover, nurture and empower emerging creative talents across the state. She added that government-owned theatres would be repurposed into cinemas and music studios, providing young creatives with free access to professional recording and production facilities.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to collaboration and transparency, the Commissioner said Lagos operates an open-door policy that encourages creatives to submit proposals, partner with the Ministry and actively participate in policy conversations shaping the industry.
She noted that the state has supported over 140 creative projects and organisations, hosted large-scale free public events attended by more than 100,000 residents, and continues to deploy the creative economy as a strategic tool for youth empowerment, social inclusion and economic growth.
In her vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, commended the leadership and accessibility of the Commissioner and reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to produce globally competitive creative talent from Lagos.
She urged practitioners in the creative sector to engage the Ministry through its official platforms, submit viable proposals and take advantage of opportunities created through public investment.
“We want to create more Burna Boys and more Davidos — global icons trained with taxpayers’ money and celebrated on the world stage,” she said.
Mrs. Oyekan-Ismaila also encouraged creatives to follow and engage with official Lagos State tourism and creative economy social media platforms to stay informed about funding opportunities, programmes and emerging initiatives.
