- British Council, Lagos Unite to Strengthen Nigeria’s Creative Economy
- Awoyinka many veteran musicians earn little or nothing from royalties
- The British Council’s Big Five initiative is a comprehensive plan to strengthen five key creative pillars
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to supporting young talents in the creative and music industry while addressing critical challenges such as royalties, streaming income, and global recognition for Nigerian music.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the assurance was given by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson Awoyinka, during a courtesy visit by the Head of Arts and Culture, British Council Nigeria, Mr Kesiena Harry, to her office in Alausa on Thursday.
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Mrs Benson Awoyinka noted that while Nigerian music continues to gain international acclaim, many veteran musicians earn little or nothing from royalties.
She emphasised the need to adopt global best practices in royalty collection and distribution to ensure fairness, transparency, and sustainability in the industry.
The Commissioner expressed concern over the decline in streaming revenue, revealing that the State is collaborating with international stakeholders, including Empire Music and Mr Mathew Knowles (father of global superstar Beyoncé), on strategic initiatives such as Lost in Africa, which aims to spotlight African music and develop emerging talents.
She disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has supported the growth of at least 200 young Lagos musicians by providing platforms for them to showcase their work, gain exposure, and attract record label opportunities.
Beyond talent development, she added that the Lagos State Government has invested ₦8.4 billion in sponsorships for 2024, positioning creatives as cultural ambassadors of Lagos both locally and internationally.
She also announced that the popular Detty December festival, Greater Lagos Fest, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year with a special edition titled Hall of Fame.
In his remarks, Mr Kesiena Harry reiterated the British Council’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with Lagos State through structured collaborations, study tours, and international exchange programmes.
He identified weak Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) as a key obstacle to effective royalty distribution in Nigeria and proposed a joint case study with the Lagos State Government to reform the system.
He revealed that the Music Connects Africa programme, set to launch in 2026, will focus on cultural exchange, artist residencies, and specialised training for musicians.
While noting that film is currently a priority for the Council through its Film Lab Africa project which has trained over 60 Lagos-based filmmakers, he assured that music will soon become a central focus in alignment with Lagos State’s creative economy goals.
According to him, the British Council’s Big Five initiative is a comprehensive plan to strengthen five key creative pillars: fashion, music, film, visual art, and literature.
This initiative will create cross-sector opportunities, link Nigerian creativity to global platforms, and expand the arts’ role in social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic growth.
He added that the British Council’s Creative Economy programme in Nigeria will be extended to five cities and London, connecting Nigerian creatives to global networks while promoting music, youth empowerment, women’s inclusion, and the integration of science and technology into the arts.
