Nigeria and the United Kingdom are seeking to expand market access for businesses in their creative industries through cross-border partnerships, investment opportunities and collaboration, as both countries prepare for a joint cultural programme in 2028.
The initiative is expected to connect creative businesses, practitioners and institutions in both countries, with discussions focusing on financing, intellectual property protection, production capacity, distribution and access to international audiences.
The effort gained momentum following a UK creative-sector delegation’s visit to Lagos, where 17 professionals from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland held engagements with Nigerian industry leaders, policymakers and cultural institutions across film, television, music, fashion, design, literature, theatre and visual arts.
The British High Commission said in an email on Monday that the engagements provided opportunities for participants to exchange expertise, establish business relationships and explore partnerships that could open new markets for creative enterprises in both countries.
The delegation participated in meetings, roundtable discussions and activities around the Africa International Film Festival, Creative Africa Nexus Weekend, Lagos Fringe and Art X Lagos.
Discussions centred on the commercial and regulatory conditions needed to expand creative businesses, including access to finance, skills development, intellectual property rights management, commissioning, production and distribution.
The engagements also supported the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership’s Creative Industries Technical Working Group, established in March 2025 to identify commercial opportunities, address regulatory and non-tariff barriers and encourage investment across creative sectors.
The working group brings together government and industry representatives to advance cooperation in film and television, music, design and fashion, architecture, advertising and gaming.
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, said the partnership was intended to connect creative businesses in both countries with international networks, expertise and markets.
“Nigeria’s creative industries combine exceptional talent, entrepreneurial energy and global influence. The UK is committed to being a practical, long-term partner, connecting Nigerian creative businesses and institutions with expertise, networks, finance and international markets,” he said.
Baxter said the success of the engagements would depend on whether the relationships established translated into lasting commercial opportunities and solutions to challenges facing creative businesses.
The programme forms part of preparations for the UK-Nigeria Season of Culture in 2028, which is expected to provide further opportunities for joint productions, professional exchanges, audience development and commercial partnerships.
The Country Director of the British Council in Nigeria, Donna McGowan, said the engagements would help creative practitioners develop professional relationships and gain access to international networks.
“Creativity thrives when talented people have the opportunity to exchange ideas, develop their skills and build trusted relationships across borders,” she said.
McGowan added that the British Council wanted cultural exchange to generate lasting benefits by expanding access to international networks and supporting collaboration between creative institutions in both countries.
The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, said Nigeria’s creative industry had significant commercial potential that could be unlocked through stronger international partnerships and access to global markets.
He said the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership and the 2028 cultural programme could help Nigerian creative businesses secure opportunities in publishing, television, fashion, touring and other areas.
“For me, the real measure of success will be what lasts beyond 2028: the tours, collaborations, publishing deals, television projects, fashion partnerships, and new businesses that grow from the relationships we are building now,” Asika said.
A member of the UK delegation and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Black British Book Festival, Selina Brown, said her engagements in Lagos had exposed her to opportunities for collaboration between British and Nigerian creative professionals.
Brown said the exchange should be mutually beneficial, allowing practitioners in both countries to share knowledge, develop partnerships and reach new audiences.
The UK and Nigerian partners are expected to follow up on business introductions, policy discussions and potential partnerships identified during the visit, as both countries seek to strengthen the contribution of creative industries to employment, exports, innovation and economic growth.
By: Justice Okamgba
