The Call for Stronger Investment in Africa’s Creative Industries
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Lagos State Government have emphasized the need for increased investment, financing, and market access to transform Africa’s creative industries into key drivers of employment, exports, and industrial growth. This call was made during the Stitch, Sell, Scale: Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight event in Lagos, which brought together leaders from government, finance, and business sectors.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighted that despite the abundance of talent, many entrepreneurs continue to face challenges such as limited access to finance, markets, and business networks. He stated that the state government is focused on building an ecosystem that enables businesses to grow, connect with new buyers, and access markets beyond Nigeria.
Represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, the governor added that Lagos is collaborating with development partners, financial institutions, and the private sector to strengthen enterprise support systems, improve product quality and packaging, and support women and young entrepreneurs.
A New Era for Africa’s Creative Economy
Elsie G. Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, noted that Africa’s fashion, leather, and creative sectors have evolved beyond cultural expression into productive industries capable of creating jobs, strengthening manufacturing, and building globally competitive brands. She pointed out that these sectors are attracting growing regional and global attention.
However, she stressed that visibility alone would not deliver economic transformation. “The real question before us is how creativity becomes prosperity; how talented designers become successful business owners; how small enterprises become competitive brands; and how creative industries contribute to jobs, industrial development and long-term economic transformation,” she said.
Attafuah emphasized that these sectors create value across entire supply chains, from raw materials and manufacturing to design, branding, logistics, retail, and digital commerce, while preserving heritage and creating economic opportunities. However, many enterprises still struggle to access finance, investment, technology, market information, and business networks needed for growth.
“Creativity becomes prosperity only when it is connected to markets. Ideas become businesses when they are connected to capital,” she said, adding that the objective of the Spotlight was to connect entrepreneurs with opportunities.
Innovation and Enterprise Shaping Africa’s Economic Future
Ahunna Eziakonwa, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator, and Regional Director for Africa, emphasized that Africa’s economic future will increasingly be shaped by innovation and enterprise. She noted that conversations about Africa’s economy have traditionally centered on natural resources, agriculture, and traditional industries, but a new story is unfolding across the continent.
Eziakonwa described the continent’s creative industries as a strategic economic sector capable of generating employment, attracting investment, and building internationally recognized brands. “Africa has never lacked creativity. The question before us today is how we ensure that creativity also becomes competitiveness,” she stated.
She identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a major opportunity for creative businesses to expand across borders, strengthen regional value chains, and attract investment. “Imagine African leather processed in one country, designed in another, manufactured in a third, and sold across our continent under globally recognized African brands. That is the promise of regional integration,” she said.
Eziakonwa stressed that entrepreneurs cannot scale without access to finance, investment, infrastructure, technology, and supportive policies. She called for stronger collaboration among governments, financiers, private-sector leaders, universities, and development partners.
Supporting Entrepreneurs Across the Continent
Highlighting UNDP initiatives such as timbuktoo, university innovation pods, and digital innovation hubs, she said the organization is working to connect entrepreneurs with investment and market opportunities across the continent. “The world has already discovered Africa’s creativity. The next chapter is ensuring that the world also recognizes Africa’s competitiveness,” she concluded.
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