In a major public-private push to future-proof the state’s dominant cultural sector, the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture (LSCAC) has unveiled plans for the maiden edition of the Eko Creative Summit 2026.

The landmark gathering, scheduled to take place on July 15, 2026, will be hosted at the iconic J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan—a venue that beautifully mirrors the summit’s core mission of anchoring modern innovation within deep-rooted heritage.

Running under the theme “Creative Skills for the Future: Empowering Lagos’ Next Generation of Creative Leaders,” the summit is designed as a high-impact sandbox. It will bring together state policymakers, creative entrepreneurs, institutional investors, and emerging talents under one roof to tackle the evolving demands of Africa’s booming “Orange Economy” (the creative and cultural industries).

Rhoda Johnson Media Company (RJM), a prominent cultural and media consultancy, is convening the summit as the official strategic partner, with RJM and Ifeoluwa Johnson steering the ship as Project Director.

The discussions will center on how young African creatives can better monetize their intellectual property, harness emerging digital tools, and bridge the skills gap to compete on a global scale.

RJM’s involvement in the summit goes beyond typical event management; it is driven by the firm’s specialized Legacy Lab practice. This dedicated advisory arm focuses on supporting public institutions, civic entities, and cultural leaders across Africa to build sustainable, long-term frameworks for cultural preservation and economic growth.

By partnering with RJM, the Lagos State Government aims to move beyond superficial talent showcases, focusing instead on structural capacity building. For a state that serves as the undisputed engine room of African entertainment, fashion, and digital media, the Eko Creative Summit represents an essential step toward ensuring Lagos maintains its competitive edge in the global creative landscape.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

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