Abuja: The Global Initiative for Leadership Success (GILS), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, convened a summit in Abuja to discuss opportunities in the creative industry.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, named ‘African Descent Creative Industry Leadership Summit, Honours and Pageants,’ was themed ‘Enhancing African Descent Economies Through Creative Industry.’ In his welcome address, GILS President and CEO, Mr. Sunnie Chukumele, emphasized that the summit aimed to examine challenges, highlight opportunities, and strengthen the creative industry ecosystem. The goal was to stimulate conversations supporting creators in areas such as talent development, intellectual property protection, distribution, financing, and global market access.
Chukumele highlighted that the gathering was a unifying platform where culture, creativity, enterprise, and leadership intersect. He stated that it served as a bridge connecting Africa with its diaspora and linking creators with policymakers, investors, and enablers to unlock the next phase of transformation. Furthermore, he noted that the creative industry goes beyond entertainment, representing diplomacy, identity, and a strategic economic pillar for the continent. The summit was a collective call to action for collaboration, innovation, and strengthening the creative economy for global competitiveness.
Earlier, Mrs. Ojemakinde Olufunke, Chief Tourism Officer at the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, commended the organizers, stating that the summit was timely and aligned with efforts to grow the national economy. She emphasized that the creative and tourism sectors could address Nigeria’s rising unemployment figures, noting the importance of diversifying into these sectors as the system cannot provide white-collar jobs for everyone.