Overview
2024 was a year of remarkable growth for Nigeria’s creative economy. Afrobeats continued its global domination, and the creative sector experienced unprecedented growth, attracting tourism to Nigeria through the vibrant “Detty December” celebrations.
Reeling off the milestone events recorded in 2023, such as the long-awaited passage of the Copyright Act and the global resonance of Nigerian creative talents to mention just a few, stakeholders beckoned 2024 with optimism and eagerness to reach new heights. However, the creative industry met with challenges, that stymied its growth.
The rise of digital platforms and social media has provided new opportunities but has also introduced new complexities related to content ownership, online piracy, and the overwhelming speed of information exchange. The global demand for Nigerian talent has never been higher, as the world increasingly looks to the country as a source of innovation, authenticity, and cultural richness.
Highlights for 2025
On a global scale, discourse surrounding the legal complexities of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated works have continued to evolve and the creative sector has been particularly central to such parley. According to an Adobe survey, over 60% of creatives utilize AI for better content creation and it is estimated that by 2030, at least a single chart-topping movie production will be created almost fully by AI. With the increasing prominence of AI technologies and emergence of sophisticated chatbots and other AI-driven tools such as the recently launched rivalling Chinese AI-powered chatbot, DeepSeek, questions revolving around intellectual property (IP) ownership, authorship and potential infringement are being echoed in the creative space.
This report provides a comprehensive look at the current state of Nigeria’s and the global creative economy, exploring the key trends that will shape the sector in 2025 and beyond. It highlights the challenges and successes on the journey so far and offers insights into how stakeholders — from government bodies to private investors, from artists to audiences — can collaborate to ensure that the creative industry in Nigeria continues to thrive.
