The National Theatre Nigeria has launched its 2026 Creative Summit in Kano to expand access to knowledge, funding and opportunities for practitioners in Northern Nigeria’s creative industry.
The two-day summit, which began on Thursday, September 10, with the theme “Beyond Lagos: Unlocking Northern Nigeria’s Creative Economy,” brings together creative practitioners, investors, development partners and academics.
National Theatre General Manager, Tola Akerele, said Kano was chosen as the first city outside Lagos because of its rich cultural heritage and creative potential. Akerele said the initiative would connect talents in Kannywood, visual and performing arts to funding, intellectual property knowledge, financial literacy, market access and global opportunities.
Kano Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, A’isha Lawan-Saji, said stronger infrastructure, skills, financing, digital technology and market access were needed to fully harness the region’s creative potential.
Public Relations and Visibility Expert, Israel Ayide, urged creatives to prioritise value creation and visibility, saying consistent public engagement was essential to building credibility and authority. He encouraged practitioners to develop distinctive perspectives and make meaningful contributions to the creative economy.
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