The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has set its sights on securing creative industry commercial deals exceeding $540 million during the ongoing Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026 in Lagos, expanding structured financing across African music, film, fashion, visual arts, and performance sectors.
​The four-day continental showcase, running from November 5 to November 8, 2026, officially launched its core sessions at 9:30 AM at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural & Creative Arts in Lagos.
The event brings together over 3,000 African and diaspora creative entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and policy architects to bridge financing gaps and build sustainable value chains across the continent’s cultural sectors.
​Through its dedicated Creative Africa Nexus initiative, Afreximbank has previously committed over $1 billion to back intellectual property, production infrastructure, and distribution channels across Africa.
The 2026 Lagos convergence aims to surpass previous financing benchmarks by providing direct B2B and B2G matchmaking platforms to convert creative outputs into bankable commercial assets.
​Addressing delegates during the summit sessions, Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade and French-Speaking Africa Bank at Afreximbank, emphasized the institution’s commitment to institutionalizing financing mechanisms for creative talents.
​”Africa’s creative economy is no longer just a cultural asset; it is a major economic growth driver,” Awani noted during the opening proceedings. “Through CANEX WKND 2026, Afreximbank is accelerating market access, protecting intellectual property, and mobilizing strategic capital to ensure African creators retain value within the continent while scaling globally.”
​Also present at the opening summit were high-level government dignitaries, including Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who highlighted the critical role of public-private partnerships in building robust infrastructure for youth-driven creative industries.
​To catalyze trade and investment, CANEX WKND 2026 features a comprehensive agenda designed to drive commercial outcomes.
The Creative Economy Finance Summit anchors the event with dedicated pitch sessions that connect project developers in film, music, and gaming directly with venture capital funds and commercial banks. Alongside these investment avenues, the CANEX Music Factory and Exhibition highlights production workshops, manuscript pitching, visual arts displays, and the Luxury Fashion Xchange.
Meanwhile, a Tech & Innovation track focuses heavily on monetising intellectual property, AI integration, and securing digital distribution rights across borders.
The continental showcase culminates on November 8 with live music performances, gastronomy activations, and a Legends Football Match hosted at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.
