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...
ENTERTAINMENT | NOLLYWOOD & POP CULTURE
Toyin Abraham’s ‘Oversabi Aunty’ Hits ₦99.8m in Opening Weekend
By Entertainment Desk | December 2025
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Nollywood actress and producer Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi has recorded a major box office milestone with her latest film, Oversabi Aunty, which grossed an impressive ₦99.8 million in its opening weekend, placing it among the strongest theatrical debuts in recent Nigerian cinema history.
The performance highlights Toyin Abraham’s growing reputation as both a creative force and a commercially successful figure in the Nollywood industry.
Box Office Boom
Released nationwide ahead of the Christmas holiday season, Oversabi Aunty has quickly emerged as the number one trending film in Nigerian cinemas, drawing large audiences across major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt.
Industry observers attribute the strong debut to several key factors:
- Strategic festive-season release timing
- Coordinated and aggressive social media marketing
- A strong existing fan base for Toyin Abraham
- Star-studded cameo appearances
Cinema operators report sustained ticket demand throughout the opening weekend, with several locations recording near-capacity attendance.
Social Media Momentum
The film’s success has been mirrored online, with trailers, fan reactions, and review clips trending across platforms such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Influencer endorsements and hashtag-driven promotions played a key role in converting online buzz into cinema turnout.
Viral Entertainment Moment
In a separate but equally notable development, Afrobeats star Asake also trended nationwide after a video surfaced showing him prostrating to fans during a visit to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The gesture, widely interpreted as a sign of humility and cultural respect, generated widespread online discussion and contributed to a day dominated by entertainment-related trends.
Industry Significance
The strong performance of Oversabi Aunty reinforces the growing commercial strength of Nollywood theatrical releases and underscores the importance of strategic marketing in today’s film economy.
For Toyin Abraham, the milestone further cements her status as one of Nollywood’s most bankable stars.
Outlook
With the Christmas holiday period still underway, industry analysts expect the film to sustain its box office momentum in the coming weeks, potentially pushing its total gross significantly higher.
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