By Ebenezer Mabinuola
In a strategic push to solidify Lagos as Africa’s creative powerhouse, the Lagos State Government has trained over 10,000 young people in film, media, animation, and digital arts.
The milestone was announced by Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, during a ministerial briefing in Alausa marking six years of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Executed through partnerships with elite institutions like Del-York Creative Academy, EbonyLife Creative Academy, and the African Film Academy, the programme aims to equip Lagosians with industry-ready skills across key creative sectors.
“This initiative goes beyond technical training,” Benson-Awoyinka said. “It lays the foundation for sustainable careers in a globally competitive creative market.”
Framed as part of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s THEMES Plus Development Agenda, the programme is designed to foster entrepreneurship, boost job creation, and promote Nigerian storytelling on global platforms.
According to the Commissioner, many graduates have already begun making their mark—securing jobs, launching startups, or contributing to major media productions both locally and internationally.
Lagos, long regarded as Nigeria’s cultural capital, is now doubling down on creative capacity-building as a driver of economic growth and social inclusion.
“We are creating a Lagos where talent has no barriers,” Benson-Awoyinka said. “Where young people with vision and drive can find the tools to succeed.”
Plans are underway to expand the programme to underserved communities to ensure broader access to creative opportunities.
With global interest in Nigerian entertainment at an all-time high, Lagos’s investment in talent development may prove pivotal in shaping the continent’s cultural and economic future.
