Lagos commissioner hails Afrobeats as Africa’s youth-powered economic engine
Lagos State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has described Afrobeats as a “youth-powered economic engine” and “one of Africa’s greatest exports to the world.”
She made the remarks during the global launch of the 2025 Afrobeats Inaugural Policy Report, hosted by Harvard University’s Centre for African Societies and Economies (CSASE) in collaboration with Rise Interactive Studios at Delborog Hotel, Victoria Island, on Friday.
Addressing scholars, policymakers, and creative industry leaders, Benson-Awoyinka said Afrobeats is no longer merely a cultural phenomenon but a major driver of economic growth, job creation, and global influence. “Culture is not just entertainment; culture is infrastructure, technology, economic policy, and identity,” she noted.
The Commissioner highlighted Lagos as home to many of Africa’s leading artists and creative entrepreneurs, describing the city as a “creative megacity.” Under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, the state has expanded talent development programmes, strengthened cultural infrastructure, and built international partnerships to position Lagos as Africa’s cultural and entertainment capital.
Aligning Lagos’ efforts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Benson-Awoyinka identified music, film, fashion, animation, gaming, and design as critical sectors for job creation and global competitiveness. She stressed that the industry’s long-term stability depends on stronger legal and economic frameworks, including intellectual property protection, royalty systems, cross-border trade, creative financing, and anti-piracy enforcement.
Paying tribute to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, she acknowledged his global cultural legacy as the foundation for today’s Afrobeats movement. Benson-Awoyinka also praised the 2025 Policy Report, describing it as the first comprehensive framework offering policymakers and investors a long-term strategy for building the Afrobeats economy.
Key issues highlighted in the report include extractive global structures, weak local data, opaque royalty systems, undeveloped African touring markets, and informal contracting practices. Policy recommendations focus on building strong regional creative-economy regulatory frameworks, strengthening local financial and business ecosystems, developing robust African touring and live-performance markets, implementing a comprehensive creative-economy data strategy, and establishing African-centred IP and contracting models.
Benson-Awoyinka reaffirmed Lagos’ commitment to building Africa’s most vibrant creative economy and invited global investors, institutions, and innovation hubs to collaborate with the state to realise this vision.
