WITTY GLOBAL BLOGS | THURSDAY FLAGSHIP EDITION Africa's $2 Billion Creative Economy Financing Push: What Nigerian Filmmakers, Musicians and Digital Creators Need to Know By Itoro Uwah | Thursday, November 12, 2026 CREATIVE ECONOMY | BUSINESS | TECHNOLOGY | INVESTMENT LAGOS, NIGERIA — Africa's creative economy is attracting renewed attention from development financiers and policymakers, following the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 gathering in Lagos from November 5 to 8. Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and hosted by Nigeria, the gathering brought together creative entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and cultural-industry professionals to explore financing, intellectual property, technology and market access. Afreximbank's CANEX financing ambition has expanded to $2 billion, reflecting a growing institutional effort to support African cultural and creative enterprises. However, the figure must be understood correctly...
It has been alleged by Nyesom Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, that individuals who are against the idea of zoning the Senate presidency to the South-South region intentionally obstruct President Bola Tinubu's progress in the National Assembly.
.He submitted that anybody who loves and believes in the country's unity and wants Tinubu to succeed would not hesitate to ensure that the next Senate President comes from the oil-rich region, as already determined by the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership.
During a media chat yesterday in Port Harcourt, Wike stated: "There is something going (on) in the country now about the Senate presidency and the House leadership, and everybody knows my position. The (Senate) presidency should come to the South-South. We are not talking about the country's presidency now; we are done with that. "If you agree that (Senate) presidency should go to the south, tell me the truth, where should it go? It can't be in the South-West. It can't be in the South-East. South-South has only produced one Senate President, Joseph Wayas, in 1979. South-East has produced over seven."
He stressed that those who were averse to Tinubu's presidential ambition are still hell-bent on laying stumbling blocks for him at the National Assembly through their opposition to his preferred choice of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President. The ex-governor maintained that the country would be distracted by unnecessary power conflict if there were no cordial relationship between the leadership of the National Assembly and the Presidency.
Meanwhile, the erstwhile governor of Zamfara State and aspirant for the Senate presidency, Abdulaziz Yari, has declared that political power is given by God, warning people against contesting the will of God on the issue.
Speaking yesterday, when the South-South Community in Abuja paid him a courtesy visit, he insisted that in this contest, "only the will of God will prevail."
His words: "People should not contest with God. Only God, Allah that we worship that instals a king, no other person." It is only God who enthrones or makes a king. This calls the attention of anyone who thinks he crowns and dethrones. Those on the throne should remember that God gave them the throne and that God never shifts from where he is. This is a clarion call to everyone. It is only God's decision that will prevail." The Senator-elect for Zamfara West charged political stakeholders with the rule of law.
He urged Nigerian leaders to collectively address the South-South conundrum.
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the community, Mike Okiro, told Yari they supported his ambition, adding: "We are here to tell you that we are with you, we help you. We are with you in our prayers.
"We are going to spread the news of our visit. We hope that God will hear our prayers and bless your ambition."
The coordinator, Premier Bello, noted that the South-South has always been in partnership with the North over the years, explaining that the understanding has been mutually beneficial.
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