The 4th edition of the British Council Creative Industries Expo, will hold this year on December 8th and 9th at Westown Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.  The 2014 British Council Creative Expo will focus on the pertinent theme of Collaboration. “The Nigerian Creative Economy among other factors is held back by lack of knowledge and information sharing and collaborative working within and across creative industry sub sectors,” says Ojoma Ochai, Assistant Director of the British Council. This year’s Expo will create opportunity for networking and information and knowledge exchange within the creative industries; showcase the benefits of the hub model and the benefits of collaboration on the creative economy.

“As always, the British Council Creative Expo promises two days of really insightful and stimulating discussion, debate and knowledge sharing from a very distinguished international roster of speakers and a high-level audience” says Nkiru Asika, CEO of Enterprise Creative, producers of the 2014 Expo.

Speakers this year come from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and the UK. They include: Kathleen Stokes, National Endowment for Science Technology & the Arts, UK; Paul Nwulu, Ford Foundation; Oliver Marlow, Studio TILT, UK; Chike Maduegbuna, CEO Afrinolly;  Leslie Donna Williams, Founder of Impact Hub, South Africa; Femi Longe, Co-Founder, CCHub; Marc-Andre Schmactel, Director, Goethe Institut; Seyi Taylor, Tech Cabal; Nkiru Asika, CEO, Enterprise Creative; Judy Ogana,Go Down Arts Centre, Kenya; Andrea Burns, ROCO UK.

In addition, for the first time this year, the Expo will feature a Pitching Contest in which selected creative and digital entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas in front of the audience to panel of hub owners and creative entrepreneurs, for a chance to win logistic and business development support from various hubs. The panel of Judges will include Olufunbi Falayi, CEO Passion Incubator, Tola Akerele, creative entrepreneur behind Bogobiri Hotel in Ikoyi and Judy Ogana of the Go Down Arts Centre, Kenya. 

The British Council Creative Expo is free to attend, however registration is required on Eventbrite for DAY 1 and DAY 2. Spaces will be allocated on a first come basis.