Data analytics, structured business models, robust financing frameworks, and stronger legal protections are essential to unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria’s creative industry. Industry leaders emphasised these requirements at the BusinessDay Creative Entertainment Summit 2026, held under the theme ‘Ownership is the New Global: Monetising Afrobeats Power Through Equity, Transparency and Strategic Scale.’ The panel highlighted systemic challenges that currently prevent local creatives from transforming raw talent into sustainable, scalable enterprises.
For Afrobeats and Nigeria’s broader creative economy to achieve sustainable global scale, artistic talent must be matched with strict financial discipline, comprehensive intellectual property protection, and verifiable data infrastructure.
Data deficiencies undermining investment readiness
Astrotwig Founder Adeleke Oluwasegun stated that a lack of measurable data remains one of the primary obstacles facing Nigerian artists. Many creatives struggle to scale because song consumption metrics and audience growth are not systematically tracked, making it exceptionally difficult to determine market valuation and attract institutional investment.
