Creative industry leaders have urged government, private sector organisations and development partners to invest more strategically in women to unlock the full economic potential of Nigeria's creative economy.
They warned that persistent barriers, including limited access to funding, leadership opportunities, infrastructure and market visibility, continue to restrict women's contribution to one of the country's fastest-growing sectors.
The call was made during the Women in the Arts: Power, Voice and Economic Impact convening, organised by the National Delphic Council Nigeria in partnership with Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR).
The event brought together prominent figures from the film, theatre, visual arts, cultural enterprise, public policy and development sectors to examine the role of women in shaping Nigeria's creative industry and identify practical measures to strengthen their participation.
The discussions come as Nigeria intensifies efforts to position the creative and tourism sectors as key drivers of economic diversification. In 2025, the Federal Government unveiled a roadmap aimed at increasing the sectors' contribution to Gross Domestic Product to 100 billion dollars by 2030 while creating more than three million jobs.
Nigeria's creative industry already enjoys significant international recognition. Nollywood is widely regarded as the world's second-largest film industry by volume, producing more than 2,500 films annually. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the motion picture, music production, sound recording, broadcasting, arts, entertainment and recreation industries all make measurable contributions to the country's economy.
Speaking at the event, President of the National Delphic Council Nigeria and Founder of WISCAR, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, said Nigeria could not build a globally competitive creative economy while women continued to face barriers to finance, leadership and market access.
"Nigeria's creative economy will not reach its full potential if the women driving culture, storytelling, enterprise and innovation remain under-supported. This is no longer just a gender conversation. It is an economic imperative. When we invest in women in the arts, we are investing in livelihoods, stronger industries, cultural preservation and the future competitiveness of Nigeria's creative economy."
Oyagbola noted that women continue to shape Nigeria's creative landscape across film, music, fashion, visual arts, literature, theatre and cultural enterprise. However, she stressed that their contribution must be matched with deliberate support through financing, mentorship, infrastructure, policy inclusion and improved access to markets.
She also described the arts as powerful tools for identity, connection, peacebuilding and economic development, urging stakeholders to take practical steps to expand women's participation and leadership across the sector.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Obi Asika, delivered a goodwill message reaffirming the importance of strengthening female representation across Nigeria's arts and culture ecosystem.
The event featured contributions from respected creative leaders, including veteran actress and director Joke Silva, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Terra Kulture Bolanle Austen-Peters, executive producer and media entrepreneur Temidayo Makanjuola, Founder of the Christopher Okigbo Foundation and member of the National Delphic Council Nigeria Obi Okigbo, and Managing Director of Quintessence Nigeria Limited Jude Oni-Okpako.
Speakers shared insights on leadership, resilience, visibility, creative entrepreneurship and the support required to build a more inclusive and sustainable creative industry.
The convening also attracted senior representatives of the global Delphic movement, including President of the International Delphic Council Davina Bautista, Secretary General Ramesh Prasana, Vice President Roberta Williams, President of Delphics Rajasthan Sreya Guha, and Founder of Mbarikola and Vice President of the National Delphic Council Nigeria Ugoma Ebilah.
Participants noted that the challenges facing women in Nigeria's creative industry reflect wider global trends. UNESCO has reported that although women account for almost half of the global workforce in culture and entertainment, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions while disproportionately occupying insecure employment.
The participants called for stronger collaboration among government, private sector organisations, cultural institutions, development partners and creative entrepreneurs to ensure women are not only visible within Nigeria's creative economy but are also empowered to lead, build businesses, scale enterprises and benefit fully from the sector's growth.
The convening ended with a renewed call for stakeholders to move beyond celebrating women's achievements and instead make intentional investments that position women as creators, business leaders, employers, cultural ambassadors and drivers of national development.
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