The Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB) has announced a strategic partnership with the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) to reposition culture as a driver of economic growth and national development.
The collaboration was unveiled during the Creative Exhibition 2.0 held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at NECA House, Ikeja, with the theme “Redefining Culture for Economic Productivity.”
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSFVCB, Mrs. Adebukola Agbaminoja, emphasized the importance of synergy between regulators and creative professionals in building a sustainable creative economy.“Culture is the lifeblood of any society; it shapes our identity, values, and aspirations,” she said, adding that the partnership between the LSFVCB and CDGN is designed to foster creativity while promoting responsible content that reflects Nigerian values.
Agbaminoja noted that redefining culture for economic productivity requires aligning artistic expression with national economic objectives.“We must advocate for policies that foster creativity, ensure fair compensation for our artists, and promote our cultural products on global platforms. By doing so, we create an ecosystem where culture thrives and, in turn, fuels economic development,” she said.
She commended the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria for inviting students to participate in the exhibition, describing it as a deliberate effort to pass on cultural values to the younger generation.
The LSFVCB boss also expressed concern about the erosion of traditional values, warning against social trends that displace moral and family structures.
“We must return to teaching and reinforcing our cultural values at home and in schools to build a healthy and morally grounded society,” she added.
Agbaminoja called on stakeholders across sectors to unite in redefining culture for economic productivity and positioning Nigeria as a global cultural powerhouse.
In her address, Dr. Joy Akinyemi, President of CDGN, outlined the Guild’s vision to make Nigeria the “Design Capital of Africa. “We aim to showcase Nigeria’s creative genius as a viable export, build partnerships between the creative industry and government, and attract investment into our cultural economy,” Akinyemi stated.
She noted that CDGN’s vision aligns with the Lagos State Government’s drive to strengthen the creative sector as a major contributor to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its youth empowerment agenda.
Delivering a keynote paper titled “Redefining Culture for Economic Productivity in Contemporary Nigeria and Nations,” cultural scholar Dr. Joseph Edoro highlighted Nigeria’s vast potential to leverage its creative assets for economic transformation.
Edoro cited Nollywood’s global success as proof of the creative industry’s capacity to boost the nation’s GDP, create jobs, and enhance international cultural exchange.
He also urged increased investment in training, technology, intellectual property protection, and copyright education.Industry data presented at the event projected that Nigeria’s entertainment and media sector, valued at about USD 9 billion in 2023, could grow to USD 13.6 billion by 2028, at a compound annual rate of 8.6 percent.
Also speaking, Mr. Daniel Krull, Consul General of Germany, proposed a cultural exchange framework linking Nollywood and the German film sector for mutual benefit.
“Nigeria possesses the stories, rhythms, and colours; Germany provides infrastructure, training models, and global distribution networks,” Krull said.
He proposed exchange programmes in set design, art direction, cinematography, and post-production, explaining that such collaborations could merge African storytelling depth with European technical expertise.
“German studios can benefit from the warmth and emotional depth of African narratives, while Nigerian designers can learn the science of visual storytelling through structured apprenticeships,” he added.
Krull expressed Germany’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigerian creatives and production companies, noting that his delegation’s presence at the exhibition was to explore long-term partnerships with Nollywood and CDGN.
The event reinforced Lagos State’s growing reputation as the creative hub of Africa, with stakeholders agreeing that culture remains a key instrument for economic transformation and youth empowerment.
