Nigeria launches AFROCENTRIC, global expo to harness Africa’s creative economy

Nigeria has formally unveiled AFROCENTRIC™, a rotational Cultural World Expo designed to convert Africa’s growing global cultural influence into structured economic growth, tourism activation, and foreign direct investment.

The initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy between the Ministry and the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce USA (NICOCUSA), establishing a national alignment framework for the inaugural seven-to-ten-day summit scheduled for Abuja in the fourth quarter of 2026.

As global demand for African music, film, fashion, and digital content continues to accelerate, policymakers increasingly view the continent’s creative industries as a high-growth sector capable of driving non-oil revenue, diaspora capital

flows, and cross-border trade.

AFROCENTRIC™ is structured as a multi-day Cultural World Expo integrating global broadcast programming, investment forums, fashion acceleration platforms, heritage recognition, creative competitions, and tourism activation within a coordinated institutional framework.

“AFROCENTRIC™ is not merely a festival; it is a strategic platform to strengthen our cultural infrastructure, empower our youth, and reinforce Nigeria’s position as the heartbeat of African creativity,” said Hon. Hannatu Musa Musawa,

Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. “This initiative aligns directly with our mandate to expand the creative economy as a pillar of national development.”

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Gregory U. Ihenacho, Founder and CEO of NICOCUSA; Temidayo L. Kafaru, Managing Director (Pan-Nigeria), NICOCUSA;

and Baba Agba, Special Assistant to the President on Creativity and senior official working directly with the Honourable Minister.

“We are bridging the gap between cultural influence and institutional trade,” said Gregory U. Ihenacho. “AFROCENTRIC™ provides structured global access to

African creativity while ensuring that economic value remains anchored on the continent. Temidayo L. Kafaru emphasized the execution framework behind the initiative.

“AFROCENTRIC™ was built as an economic instrument from inception,” he said.

“Our focus is measurable impact structured tourism inflow, hospitality activation, and long-term diaspora investment into Nigeria’s creative value chains.”

Further programme details and international stakeholder engagements are expected to be announced in the coming months.