For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has provided strong backing for the Africa Creative Market, reinforcing the creative industry partnership between the United States and Nigeria.
Founded by Dr. Inya Lawal, a Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program alumna, the Africa Creative Market serves as a platform for African and international stakeholders in the creative industries to collaborate, exchange ideas, and drive the growth of Africa’s creative economy.
This year’s event featured participation from two U.S. creative industry leaders, Steffan Horowitz of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Creative TV (ACTV) program, and Dedren Snead, CEO of Atlanta-based SUBSUME Studios.
Their involvement, supported by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, provided valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration over the course of the weeklong conference.
Julie McKay, U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, joined Horowitz and Nigerian alumni of the ACTV program in discussions focused on bridging the gap between African creatives and global audiences.
These exchanges offered key insights for filmmakers, producers, and content creators on how to expand their reach internationally.
Snead conducted a workshop centered on entrepreneurship and innovation, sharing how digital platforms, animation, and gaming can be leveraged to amplify African stories globally, creating immersive cultural experiences that showcase Africa’s narratives.
In addition to creative industry discussions, the Africa Creative Market hosted the AWE 2.0 Initiative, which brought together 150 alumnae from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs for a three-day digital skills development program.
Snead actively engaged with these women, reinforcing the U.S. government’s commitment to fostering female-led businesses and equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills needed for success in the evolving digital economy.
U.S. Consul General Will Stevens highlighted the participation of U.S. industry leaders as a reflection of the growing collaboration between the United States and Nigeria in creative industries such as music, film, fashion, gaming, and the arts.
According to Stevens, this cooperation is instrumental in strengthening ties between both nations and unlocking economic opportunities in the creative sector.
“The United States recognizes the tremendous potential of the creative industries in driving growth, fostering prosperity, and creating economic opportunities.
“At the U.S. Mission, we continue to engage with Nigeria’s creative industry leaders and innovators to discuss building a sustainable ecosystem, unlocking access to new markets, and advancing opportunities for two-way trade and investment in the creative sector,” Consul General Stevens said.
U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay, also emphasized the unique opportunities presented by the Africa Creative Market for emerging Nigerian creatives to connect with U.S. counterparts, develop sustainable business models, and engage with the global marketplace.
“Every year, the U.S. Mission sends emerging leaders in Nigeria’s creative industry on a variety of U.S. government sponsored exchange programs.
“We remain committed to supporting programs and initiatives that promote artistic expression, encourage cultural exchange, and strengthen the capacity of Nigerian artists and professionals in the creative industry,” McKay said.
The United States has a longstanding commitment to nurturing Nigerian creative talent. Recently, the U.S. Department of State launched three new exchange programs specifically designed for Nigeria’s creative sector.
These include the Africa Creative TV (ACTV) initiative for writers and producers in the film and TV industries, the American Music Mentorship Program in collaboration with the Recording Academy (Grammys), and the Community College Initiative, a one-year program that guides participants from scriptwriting to screen production.
By strengthening ties with Nigeria’s creative industry, the U.S. aims to foster a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem, enabling Nigerian creatives to thrive on the global stage.
