Création Africa 2025 Forum concluded in Lagos after three days of dynamic exchange, creativity, and collaboration that showcased Africa’s cultural ingenuity and strengthened France–Nigeria relations, following its successful debut in Paris in 2023.
Held from October 16–18, 2025, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event drew over 3,000 young creatives, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Anglophone and Francophone Africa. Themed “Technology Meets Creativity: Building Africa’s Creative Economy,” it served as a platform to connect artists, financiers, and policymakers driving the continent’s digital and cultural transformation.
Organised by the French Embassy in Nigeria under President Emmanuel Macron’s Maison des Mondes Africains initiative, the Lagos edition was supported by the France–Nigeria Business Council (FNBC) and produced by Mansa Productions.
The forum was officially opened by Jean-Joël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Africa’s creative and entrepreneurial ecosystems. He described his engagements in Nigeria as reflective of France’s strategic intent to strengthen cooperation with the Nigerian government and private sector, particularly through the FNBC as a driver of innovation and sustainable bilateral relations.
As part of the high-level activities, the France–Nigeria Business Council held its 9th Council Meeting, chaired by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc. The session gathered leading Nigerian and French business leaders to discuss expanding investment cooperation, financing creative industry infrastructure, and advancing partnerships in finance, agribusiness, energy, and technology.
Following the council meeting, a ministerial luncheon was held at Alliance Française, where the French Minister outlined France’s continued support for Nigeria’s sustainable development agenda. He spotlighted the planned €400 million “Omi Eko Project”, designed to improve Lagos’ urban infrastructure and environmental resilience, with a projected annual reduction of 31,000 tonnes of CO₂ upon completion.
In his remarks, Aig-Imoukhuede lauded France’s enduring partnership with Nigeria and reaffirmed the FNBC’s mission to serve as a bridge of commerce, culture, and creativity between both nations. He emphasized that private-sector collaboration is vital for accelerating investment, innovation, and youth empowerment across Africa’s growth sectors.
Barrot commended the Council’s efforts in strengthening bilateral cooperation and invited FNBC members to participate actively in upcoming global engagements, including the France–Africa Business Forum in Nairobi (2026) and the Paris International Agricultural Show 2026.
Later that evening, Aig-Imoukhuede featured as a speaker in a thought-provoking session titled “From Idea to Business: How to Put Creativity at the Heart of the Game,” moderated by Maria Adorante. He described Africa’s youth and creativity as the twin engines of the continent’s future.
“Africa is a cultural superpower, and our responsibility is to build systems that allow this creative energy to transform economies and shape the future of our continent,” he said.
He further noted that entrepreneurship and artistry share the same DNA of imagination, discipline, and courage to create impact, urging young innovators to be bold, test ideas, and refine them through feedback to drive meaningful change.
As a co-sponsor of Création Africa 2025, Access Holdings reaffirmed its strategic dedication to championing creativity, innovation, and youth empowerment across Africa. Through initiatives such as the Access Creative Hub and its collaboration with Tate Modern (London), which showcases more than 250 works by over 50 Nigerian artists, including Ben Enwonwu, Ladi Kwali, Yusuf Grillo, and Uzo Egonu, the Group continues to amplify African narratives and celebrate the continent’s artistic heritage on the global stage.
“Africa’s prosperity will be defined as much by our creative spirit as by our economic ambition,” Aig-Imoukhuede declared.
With a strong presence across banking, pensions, lending, payments, and insurance, Access Holdings continues to demonstrate that its purpose extends beyond finance, toward building a better, more creative, and inclusive Africa.
By Augustine Idoje
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