The Nigerian Government has projected that more than 10,000 participants will converge on Lagos for the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, expressed confidence that Nigeria would surpass previous attendance records.
She said the event would provide a platform to showcase Nigeria’s creative potential and strengthen opportunities for investment and collaboration within the creative economy.
Oduwole disclosed this during a briefing at the State House, Abuja, on preparations for the event, scheduled to hold in Lagos from November 5 to 8.
She said; “Nigeria’s hosting of CANEX would provide a strategic platform to attract investment, deepen market access and transform the country’s vast creative talent into sustainable enterprises, intellectual property, exports and employment opportunities.”
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Oduwole noted that Nigeria’s strength in music, film, fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, sports and technology places the country in a strong position to host the continental creative economy gathering.
“We are going to break every CANEX attendance record to date,” Oduwole said.
She said “more than 10,000 participants were projected for CANEX 2026, while Lagos is expected to host more than 100,000 participants for the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in 2027.”
Oduwole said the Nigerian Government was working with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the private sector and Afreximbank to ensure that the event delivers tangible economic opportunities.
Oduwole said all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would be allocated dedicated pavilions to exhibit their creative assets, cultural expressions and investment opportunities, while designated deal rooms would facilitate business engagements and commercial partnerships between investors and operators in the creative sector.
She said CANEX would convene a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including creators, entrepreneurs, investors, financiers, policymakers, distributors and market-access partners from across Africa and other parts of the world.
The Minister noted that Nigeria’s hosting of the event would mark CANEX’s first outing in West Africa, describing it as a strategic opportunity to strengthen the country’s profile as a leading hub for African trade, investment and enterprise.
Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, said; “the Nigeria Police Force had been integrated into the planning process from the outset to guarantee adequate security for participants expected from within and outside the country.”
Disu said effective security arrangements would be central to the successful hosting of the event, particularly given the anticipated influx of international delegates into Lagos.
He assured them that the police would deploy sufficient personnel and operational resources to protect participants, venues and associated activities throughout the duration of CANEX.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police overseeing Zone 2 would coordinate security operations to ensure comprehensive policing before, during and after the event.
“We have time to plan,” the IGP said, stressing that visitors would see “standard policing” and police officers ready to welcome them to Nigeria.
Disu also said that the police would seek to have a pavilion at the event to showcase the role of security agencies.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said the ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other relevant agencies to drive international participation in CANEX 2026.
He said “information on the event would be circulated through diplomatic missions in Nigeria and Nigerian missions abroad to broaden awareness and attract participants from across Africa and other regions.”
Enikanolaiye stated that the ministry was working with immigration authorities to facilitate efficient visa processing for international delegates, while protocol and reception arrangements were being coordinated to ensure seamless arrival and movement throughout the event.
According to him, the Ministry would also support on-site coordination to ease the movement of participants and enhance the overall organisation of the programme.
The Minister described CANEX as a strategic platform for Nigeria to project its creative industries as an instrument of soft power and cultural diplomacy.
He said Nigerian creatives had largely advanced their talents on individual platforms, noting that CANEX would provide government with an opportunity to harness the collective strength of the sector in advancing the country’s foreign-policy priorities and broader national interests.
The Nigerian Government said CANEX 2026 would feature activities spanning music, film, fashion, gastronomy, literature, visual arts, sports and technology, alongside investment, financing and market-access engagements designed to deepen commercial opportunities across the creative economy.
