Varsity Teams Up with Providus Bank to Fuel Creative Industry Growth

InfoStride News, in collaboration with the Pan African University, Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria, and the Enterprise Development Centre, has forged a strategic partnership with Providus Bank to catalyze growth in Nigeria’s creative industry.

Nneka Okekearu, the Director at EDC PAN-Atlantic University, shared this collaborative initiative during the 2023 Creative Nigeria Summit held in Lagos. The summit, themed ‘Investing in Nigeria’s Creative Ecosystem: Unlocking Jobs and Economic Growth,’ aimed to enhance awareness and highlight the immense opportunities within the creative sector.

Okekearu emphasized the pivotal role of the creative industry in wealth creation, job generation, and its substantial contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). She underscored EDC’s commitment to driving conversations that foster the growth of the creative industry while bringing stakeholders together to address challenges and leverage opportunities in the sector.

Providus Bank’s Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Deoye Ojuroye, expressed the bank’s readiness to support the expansive potential of the creative economy. He acknowledged the industry’s significant revenue-generating capacity, both locally and globally, emphasizing the need to harness this potential for optimal results.

During the summit, Charles Odii, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, raised concerns about the lack of robust laws in Nigeria to protect creators from piracy. Despite acknowledging the positive aspects of the creative industry’s growth, he highlighted the challenges, particularly the sector’s vulnerability due to weak infrastructure.

Representing Odii at the event, Mr. Monday Ewans emphasized the need for sustained efforts to address infrastructural deficiencies. He suggested that the government could play a crucial role by providing startup support, business grants, or loans to creative entrepreneurs, following a well-defined criterion.

Joshua Adedeji, the Country Lead for Global Alliance African, offered insights into the importance of integrating technology education into the national curriculum. He advocated for early exposure to technology and a balanced approach to learning, emphasizing the inevitability of job transformations with the advent of Artificial Intelligence.

As the creative industry continues to gain prominence globally, the collaboration between InfoStride News, Pan African University, Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria, Enterprise Development Centre, and Providus Bank signals a concerted effort to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s creative ecosystem. By addressing challenges and capitalizing on opportunities, this partnership aims to propel the creative industry towards sustainable growth, job creation, and enhanced contributions to the nation’s economic development.