From left, Oladapo Adewunmi, Founder and CEO Apollo Endeavor/Co-Founder African Creators Summit; Mr Philip Anabui, Managing Partner POA Group; Marie Lora-Mungai, Founder and CEO Restless Global; Kikelomo Adeyemi Partnerships Manager, Wema Bank; Samuel Afolabi, AXA Mansard; Chinedu Ani Emmanuel-NEDU, OAP, TV Presenter & Actor at the recently held African Creators’ Summit in Lagos.
By Tunde Oso
Citing the need to promote pan-African creative partnerships, showcase top talents to the world, boost relevant skills, convener of the African Creators Summit, Oladapo Adewunmi, has said the event was coming at an opportune time of rapid growth of the creator economy across Africa.
Adewunmi, who spoke to an audience, which included about 1000 entrepreneurs, influencers, comedians, experts from across the continent in Lagos to chart the course forward for content creation at the inaugural African Creators Summit said, “This summit is bringing together our continent’s most talented creators to learn from each other and build a strong content industry that showcases the diversity of African voices.”
He emphasized the importance of developing sustainable career pathways for content creators through education, funding opportunities, and cross-border partnerships.
According to Adewunmi, “The African Creators Summit will be an annual event, and this is a perfect time for stakeholders, partners, and interested parties to get involved. Through 2024, it promises to foster transformative processes for the African Creators Academy through a resolution created from the summit and the African Creators Academy that will train aspiring content creators.”
About 1000 entrepreneurs, influencers, comedians, experts from across the continent converged in Lagos to chart the course forward for content creation at the inaugural African Creators Summit recently.
The event offered interactive sessions on building a thriving and sustainable content ecosystem by nurturing collaboration and a career as an African content creator at the prestigious Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
Headlined by some of the top talents in African entertainment and media, the summit provided unmatched insights from the creators driving the African content revolution. Nigerian comedy sensation Lasisi Elenu and fashion icon Kiekie emceed the main event and experience sessions, leveraging their influential status to spotlight emerging talents.
Comedian Realwarripikin brought her trademark humor and straight talk to host the Discovery session on creator development. She engaged guests like stylist Princess Oghene and broadcaster Daddy Freeze in enlightening discussions on finding one’s niche and voice, as well as Ben Okonkwo – (The MERLA Manager and Impact lead for the Tony Elumelu Foundation).
Media powerhouse Oluwasola Obagbemi – (Meta external communications across Sub-Saharan Africa) facilitated the Development session centered on brand building; drawing on her communications expertise, she discussed with speakers like talent manager Olufemi Oguntamu (Penzaar), TV icon Layole Oyatogun, Unique King Obi – (Co-Founder African Creators Academy) and Barrister Olatunde Ojeladun, an IP Lawyer, in breaking down growth strategies for African creators.
French journalist, investor, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur specializing in African Creative Industries and Sports Business, Maria Lora-Mungai lent her extensive experience to the Finance session, unpacking available models for funding African content; this session was hosted by media mogul Nedu and other speakers on this session were, Oladapo Adewunmi – (Co-Founder African Creators Academy, Founder, and CEO Apollo Endeavor Limited), Philip Anabui – (POA GROUP), Samuel Afolabi – (AXA MANSARD) and Kikelomo Adeyemi – (Partnerships Manager Wema Bank).
Mariame Diakite from Ivory-coast – (Founder and Executive Partner of Diam Partners and the conceptor of Afriquette by Diam) headlined the collaboration session with Ghanaian superstar Comedian Waris, underscoring Nigeria’s potential to elevate the content industry for Africa as a whole, alongside Mark Angel and Ayo Adeagbo – (Special Assistant Art, Culture and Creative Economy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), offering insights into public sector opportunities for creators across the continent and they all brainstormed ways to drive pan-African creative partnerships.
The last session was hosted by Medical Influencer Aproko Doctor, who brought his trademark humor and accessibility to the Health session, alongside wellness guru Dr Kemi Amusa; (Former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Tourism Ukraine, Miss Bikini International Ukraine) – Omowunmi Akinnifesi also brought her emotional freedom techniques on this session and Mental Health strategist Dr. Foy offered tips on maintaining mental health amidst fame; Martins Momah from Help Station was also on this session.