The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has continued its strong support for Nigeria’s creative industry by backing the Africa Creative Market (ACM) for the third year in a row. This annual event serves as a vital platform for African and international creative industry leaders to exchange ideas, explore innovations, and collaborate on accelerating Africa’s creative economy.

Founded by Dr. Inya Lawal, an alumna of the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program, the ACM has been a cornerstone in building bridges between African creatives and the global market.

Strengthening U.S.-Nigeria Collaboration

This year’s event welcomed the participation of two notable U.S. creative industry experts: Steffan Horowitz, from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, and Dedren Snead, CEO of SUBSUME Studios, based in Atlanta. Both contributed insights through workshops and discussions supported by the U.S. Consulate General Lagos.

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Horowitz, who also serves as the Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Creative TV (ACTV) Exchange Program, alongside U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay, engaged in conversations with Nigerian alumni and emerging creatives about bridging gaps between African talent and global audiences.

Dedren Snead led an impactful workshop on entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital platforms, with a focus on using animation and gaming to amplify African narratives on the world stage.

Empowering Women in Business

A highlight of the ACM this year was the AWE 2.0 Initiative, a three-day immersive event that brought together 150 alumnae from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). Snead participated in discussions aimed at equipping these women-led businesses with advanced digital skills to scale their ventures in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Snead emphasized the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs in Nigeria, showcasing the power of collaboration between the two nations in fostering innovation and success.

U.S. Consul General Lauds Creative Industry Growth

U.S. Consul General Will Stevens praised the growing ties between the U.S. and Nigeria’s creative industries, stating, “The United States recognizes the immense potential of the creative industries in driving growth, fostering prosperity, and creating economic opportunities.” Stevens underscored the U.S. Mission’s dedication to engaging Nigeria’s creative leaders, expanding access to new markets, and strengthening two-way trade and investment in the sector.

He added that the participation of U.S. industry leaders in the Africa Creative Market highlights the importance of collaboration between the two countries across sectors like music, film, fashion, gaming, arts, and technology.

A Platform for Global Exchange

Julie McKay echoed the sentiments of Stevens, calling the Africa Creative Market a “unique opportunity for Nigerian creatives to connect with their U.S. counterparts and explore sustainable business models in the global marketplace.” She highlighted the U.S. Mission’s long-standing support for Nigeria’s creative sector, including various exchange programs that promote artistic expression and cultural collaboration.

Recent initiatives from the U.S. Department of State further reflect this commitment, with programs such as the Africa Creative TV Initiative for writers and producers, the American Music Mentorship Program in partnership with the Recording Academy (Grammys), and the Community College Initiative, offering a one-year intensive script-to-screen program.

A Future of Creative Collaboration

The U.S. Consulate’s backing of the Africa Creative Market marks a significant investment in the future of Nigeria’s creative sector. With an ever-growing exchange of ideas, resources, and opportunities, the partnership between the U.S. and Nigeria is helping to shape a thriving creative ecosystem that will benefit generations to come.