Creative industry leaders have called for increased and targeted investment in women to unlock the full economic potential of Nigeria’s creative sector, warning that persistent gaps in funding, leadership, infrastructure and visibility continue to limit growth in one of the country’s most dynamic industries.
The call was made at 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 stakeholders from film, theatre, visual arts, cultural enterprise, public policy and development to examine the role of women in shaping Nigeria’s creative economy and the structural barriers affecting their participation and advancement.
The discussion comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to position its creative and tourism sectors as key drivers of economic diversification. The Federal Government has outlined a roadmap targeting a $100 billion contribution to GDP by 2030, alongside the creation of over three million jobs across the creative economy and tourism value chain.
Nigeria’s creative sector already plays a significant role globally, with Nollywood recognised as the second-largest film industry in the world by output, producing more than 2,500 films annually. The National Bureau of Statistics also identifies motion picture, music production, broadcasting, arts, entertainment and recreation as measurable contributors to national output.
Speaking at the convening, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, President of the National Delphic Council Nigeria and Founder of WISCAR, said Nigeria cannot build a globally competitive creative economy while women continue to face barriers to funding, 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.”
She added that women continue to play a central role across film, music, fashion, visual arts, literature, theatre and cultural enterprise, but stressed the need for deliberate support systems including financing, mentorship, infrastructure, policy inclusion and improved access to markets. She also framed the arts as tools for identity, connection, peacebuilding and economic development, calling for practical steps to expand women’s participation and leadership.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Mr Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, delivered a goodwill message reaffirming the importance of elevating female voices within Nigeria’s arts and culture ecosystem.
The convening featured contributions from leading figures in the creative sector, 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 perspectives on leadership, visibility, resilience, creative entrepreneurship and the support required to build a more inclusive sector.
It also brought together senior representatives of the global Delphic movement, including President of the International Delphic Council, Davina Bautista; Secretary General of the International Delphic Council, Ramesh Prasana; Vice President of the International Delphic Council, Roberta Williams; President of Delphics Rajasthan, Sreya Guha; and Founder of Mbarikola and Vice President of the National Delphic Council Nigeria, Ugoma Ebilah.
Discussions highlighted global concerns around gender inequality in the cultural and creative industries. UNESCO has noted that while women make up almost half of the workforce in culture and entertainment, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles and are more likely to occupy precarious employment.
Participants called for stronger collaboration between government, private sector organisations, cultural institutions, development partners and creative entrepreneurs to ensure women are not only visible in Nigeria’s creative economy, but also empowered to lead, own, scale and benefit from its growth.
The convening concluded with a call for a shift from symbolic recognition to sustained investment in women as creators, business leaders, employers, cultural ambassadors and drivers of national development.
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