By Efe Onodjae

The Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Mr. Ayo Adeagbo, has called on Nigerian creators to begin operating with a strong business mindset, stressing that talent alone is no longer enough for sustainability in the creative industry.

Adeagbo made this call at the Launch 26 Conference, a two-day creative industry gathering organised by Oluseyi Adegeye Magic, founder of RareMagic Academy, held on January 26 and 27, 2026, in Lagos.

Speaking at the grand finale of the conference in Ikeja, Lagos, Adeagbo applauded the organisers for convening what he described as a “timely and strategic intervention” for Nigeria’s growing creative economy.

According to him, the theme of the conference resonated deeply with the current needs of creators, particularly as the industry shifts from informal creativity to structured enterprise.

“This is the moment when creators must learn to own and hone their intellectual property, manage their finances, and structure their businesses. That is when they move from merely serving to truly thriving,” he said.

Adeagbo noted that many talented creatives remain financially unstable not because they lack skill, but because they lack governance and structure.

“A creator who does not think like a CEO remains dependent on chance. But a creator who thinks like a CEO becomes a system unto themselves. The difference between the two is not talent — it is governance and structure,” he added.

He urged participants to change their mindset from simply producing content to building sustainable creative assets.

“Creators must move from asking, ‘What can I create?’ to asking, ‘What can this creation become?’ Your work is not just content; it is capital,” Adeagbo stated.

The Launch 26 Conference kicked off on January 26 with an intensive masterclass on photography, videography and content creation, held in Lagos.The session focused on practical skills, storytelling, and creative excellence.

The grand finale on January 27 brought together industry leaders, policymakers and creatives for conversations around business structure, intellectual property, monetisation and long-term growth.

Other notable speakers at the conference included renowned photojournalist Mr. Kola Oshalusi, filmmaker Emmanuel Oyeleke, creative entrepreneur Henry Oji (Big H), and brand strategist Kelechi Amadi, all of whom shared insights on building sustainable careers within the creative industry.

In his remarks, Oluseyi Magic described Launch 26 as a deliberate effort to reposition Nigerian creators from hustle-driven practice to structured enterprise.

He noted that the conference was designed to help creatives see themselves not just as artists, but as business owners capable of building systems, teams and legacy brands.

The event attracted photographers, videographers, content creators, designers and creative entrepreneurs from across Lagos and beyond, reinforcing its growing relevance within Nigeria’s creative ecosystem.