Collaboration Between US and Nigeria’s Creative Industries Strengthens at Africa Creative Market
For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has supported the Africa Creative Market, solidifying the growing partnership between the United States and Nigeria in the creative industry. The market, founded by Dr. Inya Lawal, an alumna of the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program, brings together stakeholders from African and international creative industries to exchange ideas and explore innovations that accelerate the growth of Africa’s creative economy.
This year’s event featured two prominent U.S. creative industry leaders, Steffan Horowitz from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Creative TV (ACTV) exchange program, and Dedren Snead, CEO of Atlanta-based transmedia company SUBSUME Studios. They were joined by Nigerian alumni of the Africa Creative TV exchange program and U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay, who discussed opportunities for bridging the gap between African creatives and global audiences.
Snead led a workshop on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the role of digital platforms in amplifying African stories globally. He also shared perspectives on using animation and gaming to create immersive cultural experiences that elevate African narratives internationally. The Africa Creative Market also hosted the AWE 2.0 Initiative, which gathered 150 alumnae of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs for a three-day immersive program aimed at advancing their digital skills to scale their businesses.
U.S. Consul General Will Stevens praised the growing collaboration between the U.S. and Nigeria’s creative industries, stating, “The United States recognizes the tremendous potential of the creative industries in driving growth, fostering prosperity, and creating economic opportunities.” He emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to promoting women-led businesses and equipping female entrepreneurs with the skills necessary for success in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has a longstanding history of supporting Nigerian creative talents. Recently, the U.S. Department of State introduced three new exchange programs for Nigeria’s creative industry, including the Africa Creative TV initiative for writers and producers in the film and TV industries, the American Music Mentorship Program in partnership with the Recording Academy (Grammys), and the Community College Initiative, a one-year program that takes participants through the script-to-screen process.
The Africa Creative Market is a testament to the strengthening ties between the U.S. and Nigeria in areas such as music, film, fashion, gaming, arts, technology, and professional and educational exchanges. The event provides a unique opportunity for emerging Nigerian creatives to connect with their U.S. counterparts and explore collaborations and sustainable business models in the global creative marketplace.
