Lagos: Nigeria’s creative economy is set to take centre stage on the global scene as Ogun State prepares to showcase its art, fashion, design, poetry, and music at the prestigious Milan Design Week 2026. Milan Design Week, which holds in April 2026, is one of the world’s biggest and most influential design events, with thousands of exhibitions, installations, showrooms, talks, and parties.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this development was announced at the inaugural edition of Artnovation – AfroItalian Renaissance (AAR) held at the Italian Consulate General in Lagos. AAR is a flagship creative economy platform jointly driven by Ogun and Lagos states, the Italian Government, and the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI-Solution17).
In a statement on the inauguration made available to NAN, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun endorsed AAR as a strategic platform for creative economy transformation and international engagement. Abiodun described creativity as a powerful engine for inclusive economic growth, job creation, tourism development, and global relevance. He emphasized the immense potential of Ogun State’s creative economy to drive transformation from heritage to livelihoods, highlighting the importance of collaboration with Italy to unlock innovation, investment, and sustainable revenue.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, equally reaffirmed the state’s commitment to projecting its creative excellence to the world and amplifying its creative story globally. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Sanwo-Olu emphasized Lagos’s readiness to collaborate with the Italian Government and CYCDI-Solution17, aiming to forge partnerships with Italian creative entrepreneurs and institutions.
Also speaking at the event, the Consul General of Italy in Lagos, Mr. Ugo Boni, described the initiative as a living symbol of shared values and creative collaboration. He highlighted the AfroItalian Renaissance as embodying the values of collaboration, creativity, and shared heritage between Italy and Nigeria, with the inaugural edition at the Italian Consulate reflecting a commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy and supporting creative-led development across both nations.
According to the CEO of CYCDI-Solution17 and Chief Curator of Artnovation, Ms. Foluke Michael, the platform is far more than an exhibition. She described Artnovation as a cultural movement that unites continents, opening pathways for trade, design, technology, tourism, and global collaboration, positioning Nigeria’s creative economy on the global stage from Ogun and Lagos to Milan, Florence, and Rome.