Major Report Unveils Deep Dive into Nigeria's Booming Creative Economy

A new comprehensive report, 'The State of Nigeria’s Creative Economy 2026,' released by NECLive in partnership with Frontyard Group, seeks to provide empirical evidence and an honest assessment of the challenges hindering the growth of Nigeria’s creative sector. This groundbreaking study moves beyond mere celebration of Nigerian creativity, instead offering a data-led, specific, and structural diagnosis of the issues preventing its full potential from being realized.

The report is based on an extensive survey conducted among 377 creative professionals across eight diverse sectors, with data collected immediately following NECLive 2025. Its central and most urgent finding definitively states that a shortage of talent is not, and has never been, the impediment to Nigeria's creative economy. Rather, the primary restriction to sector growth lies within the surrounding ecosystem and machinery – encompassing critical infrastructure, administrative systems, payment rails, financing mechanisms, and adequate training provisions. The report emphasizes that while Nigerian talent has consistently delivered, the supporting systems have demonstrably failed to keep pace.

Survey participants articulated a clear set of structural barriers that significantly limit their capacity to scale and thrive. These are not abstract concerns but manifest as daily realities, including fundamental infrastructure deficits, burdensome administrative processes, friction within payment systems, and insufficient access to financing and specialized training. These insights directly reflect the experiences of hundreds of working creative professionals who provided candid accounts of their operational challenges.

Tomiwo Ojo, Head of Content at ID Africa, eloquently summarized the report's significance: “We have never lacked influence. What we have lacked is evidence about the machinery beneath that influence and the honest conversation that evidence makes possible. A sector that can name its own constraints is a sector ready to be built. The talent has already done its part. It is time for the systems to catch up.” This sentiment underscores the report's critical role in fostering a more informed and constructive dialogue about the sector's future.

Beyond merely diagnosing the problems, 'The State of Nigeria’s Creative Economy 2026' proposes a series of clear, actionable recommendations. These directives are strategically aimed at key stakeholders including government bodies, investors, and the broader private sector, positioning the document not just as a piece for contemplation but as a practical guide for implementation. The report is now freely available for download to the public, policymakers, and industry stakeholders at nec.ng, empowering all parties to contribute to the necessary systemic improvements.