Media executive and cultural strategist Jide Taiwo will convene the inaugural Eko Creative Summit on July 15, bringing together government officials, creative industry leaders, entrepreneurs and emerging talent for what organisers describe as a practical intervention aimed at preparing Lagos-based creatives for opportunities in the fast-growing creative economy.

Powered by the Lagos State Council for Arts & Culture, the summit holds on Wednesday, 15th July 2026, the United Nations’ designated World Youth Skills Day and comes amid increasing recognition of the creative economy as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing sectors, which contributes significantly to employment, exports and youth entrepreneurship. The one-day programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and masterclasses exploring topics including exporting Nigerian creative talent, intellectual property, digital innovation, financing creative ventures, career development and entrepreneurship. Participants are expected to come from across the music, film, fashion, design, gaming, publishing, media, and digital content sectors.

According to Taiwo, founder of CultureWorx, a culture infrastructure company that helps brands, institutions, governments, and creators understand, build, document, and activate culture, the summit was conceived in response to a persistent gap between creative ability and commercial success.

“Nigeria is producing extraordinary creative talent, but talent alone is no longer enough. The creators who will define the next decade are those who understand business, intellectual property, technology and global markets. This summit is about equipping young creatives with the knowledge, networks and opportunities to compete successfully.”

Over the last decade and a half, Jide Taiwo has built a multidisciplinary career that spans publishing, research, cultural programming, exhibitions, documentaries, biography writing, and creative strategy, previously speaking at platforms such as ArtX, African Creative Markets, and NECLive, among others. He also hosts Fuji Opera, recently published a book on Fuji icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal and is incubating Juju Revue, a major initiative dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Juju music. He’s widely regarded as one of the leading voices in Nigeria’s cultural space and a bridge between heritage and contemporary culture.

The Eko Creative Summit reflects the Lagos State Government’s broader efforts to strengthen the creative economy through skills development, cultural promotion and youth empowerment. Beyond discussions, the summit is expected to facilitate networking opportunities, mentorship and collaborations between established industry figures and emerging creatives, while highlighting Lagos’ continuing position as one of Africa’s leading centres for cultural production.