First Lady of Kwara Advocates for Women in Africa’s Creative Economy at EWL 2024

Her Excellency, Ambassador Professor Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, First Lady of Kwara State,
delivered a compelling keynote at Entertainment Week Lagos (EWL) 2024. Titled ‘Rising Tides:
Women Reshaping Africa’s Creative Economy,’ her speech highlighted the significant
contributions of women in film, fashion, and digital media while addressing persistent challenges
such as limited access to funding and mentorship.

The First Lady emphasized the importance of inclusive growth and innovation, highlighting
initiatives like the Kwara State Film Village and the Nigeria National Women and Economic
Empowerment Policy as key drivers of human capital development. She urged stakeholders to
collaborate in empowering women and advancing sustainable growth across Africa’s creative
industries.

“We must create more opportunities for women—not just in traditional industries but also across
emerging sectors like technology, film, and fashion,” she emphasized. The First Lady spotlighted
the #WeeLiftNigeria campaign, a national policy initiative supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, which focuses on economically empowering women and fostering public-private
partnerships to bridge critical skill gaps.

Building on these themes, Latasha Onwuve, renowned journalist and media personality, stressed
the need for sustainable structures to support women in the creative economy. “We’re at a
tipping point,” she said. “Women are no longer just contributors to the creative industries—they

are leaders and innovators. But to maintain this momentum, we need policies that ensure access
to funding, training, and fair representation.”

Tiwalola Medubi, Managing Director of Livespot 360, shared her perspective on the importance
of fostering connections across disciplines, regions, and expertise levels. “Collaboration is the
lifeblood of the creative economy,” she noted. “From fashion working hand-in-hand with
technology to filmmakers collaborating with global platforms, the possibilities are endless when
we connect tides.” Medubi also outlined the ambitious goals of Entertainment Week Lagos, which
aims to elevate Nigeria’s creative sector to contribute $100 billion to the national economy by
2030.
One of the recurring themes was the need for intentional mentorship and investment in
emerging female talent. Panelists discussed the successes of initiatives such as Labspot, Livespot
Foundation’s programme designed to nurture small creative businesses. Highlighting the
transformative impact of mentorship, Medubi stated, “If no one gives you a seat at the table, build
your own—and make it big enough for others to join.”

The session also celebrated the achievements of women who have successfully navigated the
challenges of the creative economy, such as Funke Akindele, a trailblazer in Nigeria’s film industry.
Her journey exemplifies how resilience, creativity, and strategic partnerships can transform
personal dreams into global movements.

As the conversation concluded, panelists left the audience with a resounding call to action: to
harness the collective power of women to build a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable
creative economy. From policy reforms to grassroots mentorship programmes, the roadmap is
clear—Africa’s creative sector is rising, and women are leading the charge.
Entertainment Week Lagos continues to be a vital platform for amplifying these voices and
fostering collaborations that drive real change.

“The future of the creative economy is female—and the tide is rising.”