By Esther Onyegbula

More than 500 young creators, innovators and cultural entrepreneurs gathered in Lagos on Thursday for the 2025 edition of the Creative Economy Summit (CREST), with industry leaders declaring that Africa has moved from seeking recognition to actively shaping global cultural trends.

Held at Cedars House of Grace, Lekki, the six-hour summit brought together filmmakers, digital artists, tech creators, musicians, fashion entrepreneurs and content strategists in what has now become one of the continent’s most influential gatherings for the creative economy.

The event, which featured keynote speeches and four high-level panel sessions, centred on one dominant message: Africa’s creative sector is not just growing, it is leading and redefining global conversations.

Speaking during one of the plenary sessions, industry thought leaders including Opeyemi Olugbemiro, Adewunmi Adeusi, Ruby Akubueze, Charles Odii, Jay On Air, Spyro and Tomiwa, stressed that African storytelling, music, fashion and digital culture are now driving major global trends.

They noted that with Afrobeats topping charts worldwide, African literature gaining wider international readership, and the continent’s fashion aesthetics increasingly influencing global runways, Africa’s creative imprint can no longer be overlooked.

Across sessions, discussions repeatedly returned to three central themes: the power of authenticity, the urgency of building creative infrastructure, and the need to equip Africa’s creators for global competitiveness.

Speakers emphasized that Africa’s cultural diversity remains its biggest strength. They urged creators to preserve originality and avoid diluting narratives in the race for visibility.

The success of this year’s summit was powered by CREST Directors Olumide Phillips, Toyosi Ayeleso, and Dipo Okubanjo, with generous support from sponsors committed to Africa’s creative growth.