Event: Designated Survivor — Creative Economy Panel

Role: Moderator

Date: 22nd August 2026

Time: 11:35 AM

Panellists: Victoria Ajiboye, Ayo Adams, Tunchie NLA

THE ONE RULE

you do not need to ask every question. the questions create direction. your listening creates the conversation. if someone says something interesting, drop the sheet and follow the thought.

OPENING — 11:35 AM

walk up, settle in, then begin.

when we say the creative economy, we are not just talking about musicians, actors, influencers or people making videos on Instagram. we are talking about an entire ecosystem: music, film, fashion, design, advertising, digital content, gaming, publishing, photography and more.

nigeria's creative economy contributes about 2.3% to GDP and supports over 4.2 million jobs. the government is targeting two million additional jobs from the creative economy by 2030.

something is happening. but here is where it gets interesting.

in a country where you are often told to get a real job, what happens when the thing you are genuinely good at is creating? what happens when your creativity becomes your skill, your audience becomes your community, and eventually your creativity becomes the thing paying your bills?

we have the talent. we have the audience. we have the culture. but are we building an economy that actually allows the people creating all of this to thrive?

and for the young person sitting in this room today: can you actually build a sustainable career from your creativity in nigeria, or are we all just learning how to survive?

that is what we are here to explore.

And I should be transparent with you. i am not just here as a moderator.

i run a digital marketing and talent management agency in lagos. i work with brands, i work with creators, and i am building infrastructure for how african creators distribute their work and monetise their influence.