Speakers champion youth development, creative sector growth at career conference

At the 14th Career Day Conference hosted by the Bridge Leadership Foundation on July 19, 2024, notable speakers addressed the crucial role of inclusive youth development in enhancing Nigeria’s creative economy.

The conference, which was held at the Calabar International Conference Centre, revolved around the theme “The Creative Economy: Building Nigeria’s Future Through Youth Innovation” and featured prominent voices from various sectors.

Giving the opening remarks, Liyel Imoke, founder of The Bridge Leadership Foundation and former governor of Cross River State, praised the resilience and creativity of Nigerian youth, urging stakeholders to invest in their potential.
“For the past 13 years, The Bridge Leadership Foundation has hosted this summit to connect young people with opportunities to learn from industry leaders, sharing in their challenges, success stories, and opportunities,” he said.

He further emphasised, “The Nigerian economy transcends geographical borders. I encourage our youth to hone their talent and seize the opportunities. Technology has democratised access, allowing young people to benefit from the creative economy regardless of their location.”
John Ugbe, CEO of West Africa, MultiChoice and the special guest speaker, advocated for a collaborative strategy involving all stakeholders to maximise opportunities for youth, particularly within the creative sector.

“This theme is not only timely but also critical to the future of our nation. Globally, the creative economy is valued at $2.2 trillion, with Nigeria’s creative economy currently contributing $1.4 billion. Despite this, there is a significant opportunity for growth in our creative sector.
“To support and sustain the wave of innovation among young people, we need to establish policies, provide legal and intellectual property protection, and foster public and private sector collaboration. An inclusive approach to youth development is essential. We must work together across sectors to unlock the full potential of our young people. At MultiChoice, we believe in investing in the future of content and productions through training and capacity building. Our initiatives, such as the MultiChoice Talent Factory, have trained thousands of young filmmakers across Africa,” Ugbe said.

On her part, Busola Tejumola, executive head of Content and Channels, West Africa at MultiChoice, spoke on “Retooling Youth Talent and Creativity for the Future.” During her session, she highlighted the evolution of technology and its impact on various industries and careers, noting the transition in mobile technology and film and its implications for the future of work. She advised young people to focus on training, internships, personal development, and cultivating the right character for their future.

“MultiChoice is committed to developing the creative ecosystem through initiatives like the MultiChoice Talent Factory, which thousands have benefited from across three regions and 13 countries in Africa,” Tejumola said.

She also emphasised MultiChoice’s role as a key ecosystem enabler, adding, “Through the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), we have created over 30,000 jobs, presented 300 awards, and invested over ₦9 billion in the project, underscoring our commitment to fostering the creative economy.”

Obi Asika, director general of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), revealed that the government has initiated projects aimed at supporting the creative sector. “We have launched The Innovation Creativity Entrepreneurship (ICE) programme, with a plan to train 3 million people in the creativity sector over the next two years as part of a broader goal to upskill talent in the sector and leverage it to grow the economy,” he said.

He noted that based on predictions on the growth of the Nigerian population, 50 percent of the country’s population will be dominated by people between the ages of 18-29, which shows the need for the country to deploy youth energy for sustainable development.

The event also featured notable guests like Chioma Ude, founder of the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Ireti Doyle, actor, producer and presenter, Eric Okyerefo, co-founder and CEO of Filmmakers Mart and Joey Akan, founder of Afrobeats Intelligence and Entertainment Editor of News Central TV and many more.