STRENGTHENING NIGERIA’S CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM: UVA DRIVES CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS AND CULTURAL LEADERS IN LAGOS

Lagos, Nigeria: Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA), in partnership with Culture Funding Watch (CFW), successfully convened the Culture Funding Masterclass: Fuel Your Creativity on Thursday 19 February 2026 at its Vibes & Thrills Hub, Magodo Phase 2, Lagos.

The high-impact masterclass brought together 28 Lagos based creative entrepreneurs, including visual artists, photographers, skit makers, videographers, music producers, graphic designers, theatre and dance practitioners and others. More than a convening, the session served as a strategic learning platform designed to strengthen participants’ capacity in intelligent resource mobilization, financial positioning, diversification of income streams and long-term sustainability within Nigeria’s evolving creative and cultural ecosystem.

The masterclass was facilitated by Ouafa Belgacem, Founder and CEO of Culture Funding Watch, a globally recognized expert in financing the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs). Drawing from her extensive international experience supporting cultural actors and institutions, Belgacem delivered a comprehensive and strategic exploration of resource mobilization that challenged participants to rethink traditional fundraising approaches.

Rather than defining success solely by the volume of money raised, the session emphasized sustainability, strategic positioning and intelligent decision-making. Participants were introduced to practical frameworks and critical distinctions essential for institutional growth. A key highlight was the differentiation between Restricted Resources (such as grants tied to specific deliverables) and Unrestricted Resources (including tenders, awards, service-based income and internally generated revenue). The session underscored the crucial role unrestricted funds play in strengthening institutional resilience, enabling innovation and supporting long-term stability.

Beyond financial mechanisms, the event stressed the importance of expertise, visibility and diversification as the backbone of sustainable growth in the creative and cultural sectors. Participants were encouraged to shift from reactive grant-seeking to proactive strategy-building grounded in intelligence gathering, ethical consistency and long-term institutional vision.

Practical tools were shared, including fellowship placement programmes, monetizing organizational competencies through the SAP (Savoir, Avoir, Produire) framework, and leveraging structured networking opportunities. Through real-life case studies and strategic insights, creatives were shown how to transform their knowledge (Savoir), assets (Avoir), and production capacity (Produire) into diversified income streams and enhanced institutional credibility.

The vibrant participation, critical reflections and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange throughout the session underscored the growing demand for structured funding literacy and strategic institutional development among creative professionals.

Distinguished guests in attendance included Aralola Olamuyiwa (Ara), Nigeria’s pioneering female talking drummer and a global icon renowned for elevating African heritage on the world stage, alongside Oyindamola (Fakeye) Faithful, Board Chair of the international artists’ residency body, Res Artis, and Executive & Artistic Director of the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos(CCA Lagos).

As the momentum from the masterclass continues, UVA remains committed to developing platforms that bridge creativity with capital, ensuring that bold artistic ideas are matched with sustainable resources, institutional strength and measurable impact.

For media inquiries, partnerships, or upcoming programmes, please contact: Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA) email: info@unchainedvibesafrica.com