Experts in Nigeria’s creative sector have warned that weak intellectual property protection and widespread copyright infringement could undermine the country’s N1.97 trillion creative economy.
The concerns were raised on Tuesday during a webinar organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) to mark International Youth Day.
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The dialogue, themed “Young Creatives, Common Aspirations: Building from Dialogue to Community,” brought together young creatives, policymakers, development practitioners and government representatives to examine the opportunities and challenges facing young people in Nigeria’s creative industries.
N1.97tr creative economy
Speaking at the event, Stanley Ukpai, director of projects at dRPC, said Nigeria’s creative economy contributed at least N1.97 trillion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025.
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He said the sector was projected to grow by an average of 8.6 per cent annually through 2028, describing it as one of Africa’s most dynamic growth industries.
However, Mr Ukpai said the sector’s potential could be limited by widespread copyright infringement and inadequate intellectual property protection.
Copyright infringement occurs when creative works are used, reproduced or distributed without the permission of the copyright owner, potentially depriving creators of income and control over their work. For young creatives seeking to build sustainable careers from their work, such losses can limit their ability to earn and grow their businesses.
Mr Ukpai said many young creatives lacked the knowledge and access to services required to register and protect their intellectual property, leaving their work vulnerable to unauthorised use.
He called for greater awareness of, and easier access to, intellectual property registration and advisory services to help Nigerian creatives protect and monetise their work, particularly in international markets.
Stronger policy support
Beyond copyright protection, participants said Nigeria needed stronger systems to help young people turn creative skills into sustainable careers.
Joshua Alade, founder of Nigeria Youth Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said young creatives should actively participate in the ongoing development of the National Youth Policy 2026–2030.
He said the policy should address access to finance, market opportunities, skills development, fair contracts and social protection for young people working in the creative sector.
“Talent alone is insufficient without the systems and support structures needed for creatives to thrive,” Mr Alade said.
He urged young people to move beyond being beneficiaries of government policies and become active participants in shaping policies that affect their livelihoods.
Also speaking, Oyekan Adedoyin, head of the Youth Migration and Climate Action Resilience Department at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society and the private sector.
Mr Adedoyin said such collaboration was necessary to ensure that ideas generated by young people translated into policies and economic opportunities.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Eze Osuji, a principal planning officer in the Ministry’s Planning, Research and Statistics Department, said young creatives could contribute significantly to economic empowerment if they had access to the infrastructure, policies and partnerships required to develop their talents.
Major barriers
Participants also highlighted infrastructure deficits and limited access to professional networks as barriers facing creatives outside Nigeria’s major commercial centres.
Speaking about his experience building a creative career in Jos, Ogochukwu Umeadi of Twenty Pounds Entertainment said creatives in the city faced inadequate infrastructure and limited opportunities for collaboration.
He also cautioned young creatives against exploitative arrangements disguised as opportunities.
Mr Umeadi encouraged creatives to build their visibility, invest in personal branding and focus on sustainable career development rather than shortcuts to success.
Formal creative network
The webinar also renewed discussions about creating a formal network for young creatives emerging from dRPC’s previous engagements, including its national dialogue on youth creatives in the digital economy and related discussions on Nigeria’s orange economy.
Mercy Nnaji of dRPC said four creatives had already benefited from intellectual property scholarships facilitated through the organisation’s previous engagements.
She invited participants to contribute to discussions on the proposed network’s governance, identity and strategic direction.
Participants called for the network to accommodate creatives across disciplines, including those working to preserve Nigeria’s indigenous cultural heritage through projects documenting oral histories.
They also advocated increased access to mentorship, funding, visibility and markets, while stressing the need to create stronger links between creative skills and viable economic opportunities.
Youth participation in policy
The discussions also focused on the need for young people to play a more active role in policymaking rather than remain recipients of government interventions.
Participants said policies targeting young people should reflect the realities of different creative disciplines and locations while providing practical support for financing, skills development, intellectual property protection and market access.
The discussion was held in line with the 2026 United Nations International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” which highlights the common aspirations of young people despite differences in their social and economic circumstances.
International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August to highlight issues affecting young people and promote their participation in social, economic and political development.
The United Nations designated 12 August as International Youth Day in 1999, following a recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth.
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