Niger Delta Creative Industry Expo Holds in Asaba in December

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Asaba, the Delta State capital is gearing to boosting Nigeria’s creative economy with the hosting of the inaugural ‘Niger Delta Creative Industry Expo’ (ND CRE8 EX 2026), from the 1st to 5th December, 2026, when thousands of creative stakeholders including artistes, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, brand owners and policy makers are expected to converge on the state.

A brain-child of Mega Fun Plus Limited, the five-day regional expo, themed “Inspiring Ideas, Empowering Creators, Shaping Futures,” is designed to create practical opportunities for young people and creative entrepreneurs across the nine Niger Delta states through skills development, technology, investment, collaboration, employment and access to markets.

The event will bring together creatives, entrepreneurs, young people, investors, brands, policymakers and industry leaders from the Niger Delta and beyond, while showcasing the region’s talent, culture and enterprise, the organisers disclosed. 

They noted that registration for young creative artistes, entrepreneurs, students, innovators and other participants was free, subject to capacity and registration requirements.

The event is expected to feature “practical training, creative-industry masterclasses, a Creators Bootcamp, artificial intelligence and technology sessions, business and entrepreneurship development programmes, exhibitions, live showcases, networking opportunities and certificates.”

The Convener/Project Director, Ogusbaba Akpobome, further said that the programme would cut across several segments of the creative economy, including film and television, content creation, fashion, design, graphic design and branding, comedy, photography and videography, music production and DJing, radio and podcast production, as well as events and talent management.

According to him, the event will flag off on December 1, featuring a flagship Conference and Awards programme expected to bring together practitioners, policymakers, investors, brands and innovators from across Nigeria’s creative economy.

The conference will include keynote addresses, panel sessions, special guest addresses, industry conversations and networking, with discussions focusing on the future of the creative economy, technology and artificial intelligence, investment, market access and regional collaboration.

Akpobome added that the ‘ND CRE8 Awards’ will also recognise outstanding creatives, icons, organisations and other contributors to the industry, as he described the opening day as potentially the biggest gathering of creative professionals in the Niger Delta, with leading creatives, entrepreneurs, media personalities and other influential guests expected to attend.

Akpobome said, “A major component of the expo will be the ND CRE8 Business and Investment Hub, which is expected to provide a platform for creatives and entrepreneurs to gain business knowledge, improve their financial literacy, explore access to finance, register enterprises, participate in pitch sessions and connect with investors and relevant institutions.

“The expo will also place significant emphasis on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, reflecting the rapid changes taking place within the global creative industry.

“The organisers said the focus was intended to equip young Nigerians with relevant digital skills capable of helping them compete and participate more effectively in the evolving creative economy.”

The Niger Delta has abundant valuable talents but requires a stronger ecosystem capable of connecting creatives with knowledge, technology, investment, brands and markets, he pointed out. 

The expo was designed to serve as something more than a conference or entertainment event, but would serve as a regional platform where young people could learn, build connections, create, conduct business and develop sustainable futures from their talents.

The initiative would encourage stronger collaboration among governments, private-sector organisations, development institutions, investors, media organisations and creative practitioners, with the goal of creating a more connected and productive creative ecosystem in the region, the convener said.

Meanwhile, the organisers have called for collaboration with government institutions, corporate and financial organisations, development agencies, technology companies, media houses, creative-industry leaders, investors and brands, that would have direct engagement with thousands of young creators and entrepreneurs while supporting skills development, innovation and economic inclusion.

The organizers believe the expo would contribute to broader efforts to position the Niger Delta as a major contributor to Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.