Adesugba Calls For Creative Economic Zones and Financing For African Creators

Professor Adesoji Adesugba has called for dedicated creative economic zones, financing backed by intellectual property and stronger copyright enforcement to help African creators build sustainable businesses and retain more of the wealth generated by their work.

Adesugba, Founder and Chairman of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Business Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, delivered the keynote at the Africa Creators Conference (ACC 2.0), held at the Abuja International Trade and Convention Centre on Friday, 30 October 2026.

Speaking on “The Powered Africa: Creativity, Innovation and Transformation,” he said Africa’s growing cultural influence must translate into greater ownership, employment and fair earnings for creators.

“Africa is not short of creativity. Africa is short of share,” he said.

Adesugba proposed creative economic zones and hubs in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt and other centres, with reliable electricity, fibre connectivity, studios, post-production facilities and rendering capacity, supported by a simple and competitive fiscal regime.

“Let the editing, the animation, the mastering, the licensing and the data hosting happen here, so that the value-added stays here,” he said.

He urged banks, development finance institutions and capital market operators to recognise creative catalogues, film libraries, design portfolios and verified royalty streams as assets for financing creative businesses.

He also called for swift, adequately funded action against digital piracy and greater transparency among collective management organisations, so that royalties from broadcasts, streaming and public performances reach their rightful beneficiaries.

On artificial intelligence, he urged creators to learn emerging tools while seeking protection for their work, voices and likenesses. He said consent, ownership and compensation must guide the use of African creative works in AI systems.

“Talent is natural; professionalism is learned,” he said, stressing the need for training in contracts, taxation, branding, financial management and AI alongside technical skills.

He said the BEST Centre was open to partnerships with the conference organisers, AfriLabs, UNESCO and the relevant ministry to provide business clinics, mentorship and market connections for creative enterprises. He urged universities to connect research and teaching with commercial opportunities.

Adesugba called for stronger African distribution networks, easier cross-border payments and co-production agreements to expand opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He encouraged creators to register their businesses, protect their intellectual property, keep proper records and join professional associations and chambers of commerce to improve access to investors and markets.

“Our task now is to make sure that Africa is also paid, fully and fairly, for what the world enjoys,” he said.