Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference on preparations for the event scheduled for Lagos from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8.
Oduwole said more than 10,000 participants were expected at the event, expressing confidence that Nigeria would surpass previous attendance records.
She said CANEX 2026 would provide a major platform for Nigerian and African creative entrepreneurs to interact with investors, financiers, distributors and international markets.
“For the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all states of the Federation, CANEX is much more than a celebration of African creativity. It is a platform for trade, investment, enterprise and market access,” she said.
The minister said Nigeria’s strength in music, film, fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, sports and technology made the country well positioned to host the continental creative economy gathering.
According to her, the Federal Government is positioning the creative industries as an important component of its broader trade and export agenda towards achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy.
Oduwole noted that global trade was increasingly generating value through services, technology, content, intellectual property and culture, rather than relying solely on physical goods.
“Nigeria is already a major source of African music, film, fashion and creative content. The opportunity before us is to capture more of the economic value generated by that creativity,” she said.
She explained that CANEX would connect creators and creative businesses with finance, investors, distribution networks, technology and international markets.
“Today, our message is simple: we want to see partnerships formed, financing mobilised, intellectual property commercialised, businesses entering new markets and Nigerian creative enterprises scaling beyond our borders,” Oduwole said.
The minister said Lagos would become a meeting point for Africa and the global creative economy during the event, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory expected to have dedicated pavilions.
She said the pavilions would provide opportunities for the states and the FCT to showcase their creative assets, enterprises and investment opportunities to local and international participants.
Oduwole added that designated deal rooms would facilitate business engagements, investment discussions and commercial partnerships between investors and operators in the creative sector.
She said the Federal Government was working with state governments, the private sector and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to ensure that CANEX 2026 produced tangible economic opportunities.
According to her, the preparations reflect a whole-of-government approach involving institutions responsible for foreign affairs, finance, customs, immigration, health, transportation and security.
Oduwole said Nigeria’s hosting of CANEX would also mark the event’s first outing in West Africa, further strengthening the country’s profile as a hub for African trade, investment and enterprise.
She disclosed that Lagos would also host the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in 2027, describing it as Africa’s largest trade fair.
The minister said the two platforms would provide opportunities to showcase Nigerian products, connect businesses with African markets and demonstrate investment opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, said the Nigeria Police Force had been integrated into the planning process from the outset to guarantee adequate security during the event.
Disu said effective security arrangements would be central to the successful hosting of CANEX 2026, particularly because of the anticipated influx of international delegates into Lagos.
He assured that security considerations were being incorporated into the preparations to ensure that participants, businesses and other stakeholders could engage in the programme in a secure environment.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, said his ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other relevant agencies to drive international participation.
Enikanolaiye said information on CANEX 2026 would be circulated through diplomatic missions in Nigeria and Nigerian missions abroad to broaden awareness and attract participants from different countries.
He added that the ministry was working with immigration authorities to facilitate efficient visa processing for international delegates expected to attend the event.
The minister described CANEX as a strategic platform for Nigeria to project its creative industries as instruments of soft power and cultural diplomacy.
The Federal Government said the event would feature music, film, fashion, gastronomy, literature, visual arts, sports and technology.
CANEX 2026 will also feature investment, financing and market-access engagements aimed at deepening commercial opportunities, strengthening creative enterprises and expanding Nigeria’s participation in the global creative economy.(NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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