The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, alongside the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mr Babatunde Onigbanjo, alongside the management teams of both ministries, joined the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the opening ceremony of the three-day CANEX Weekend 2026 – Creative Africa Nexus.
The event, held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Iganmu, Lagos State, is Afreximbank’s flagship platform for Africa’s creative and cultural industries. It is designed to connect African creatives with global investors, buyers, distributors and policymakers while showcasing Africa’s best in film, music, fashion, visual arts, design, literature, gaming and digital content.
CANEX Weekend 2026 – Creative Africa Nexus also seeks to unlock trade and investment opportunities by transforming creativity into bankable businesses and exportable products. It aims to achieve this through capacity-building programmes, including masterclasses, exhibitions, pitch sessions and networking opportunities.
The event will also promote intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while ensuring that African stories are told by Africans and shared with the rest of the world.
