The inaugural Digital Creator Africa (DCA) Summit has set out a radical new vision for the continent’s creator economy, bringing together Nigeria’s leading influencers, cultural voices and creative entrepreneurs in Lagos.
Held on 18 September at the Africa Creative Market in Landmark Village, the gathering was convened by creative business consultant Ifeoma ‘Oma Areh and marked by the unveiling of the Fourth Mainland Creator Fund, a $500,000 initiative designed to inject direct capital into African creators.
Announcing the scheme during his keynote address, media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo pledged nearly ₦1 billion of personal funds, with operations due to begin in January 2026. Unlike traditional grant or mentorship schemes, the fund will back individual creators rather than companies or NGOs, prioritising bold innovators capable of scaling into global media brands.
“Grants do not build empires. Mentorship does not scale industries. Capital does,” Jideonwo told the audience under the summit’s theme ‘Overtaking is Allowed’. “Creators do not need permission; they need people betting on them in a systemic pattern.”
The fund, to be managed by Jideonwo’s Joy Inc under newly appointed CEO Jennifer Mairo, will be platform-agnostic, supporting talent across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Substack and more. It will also launch a “record label for creators”, further amplifying African voices on the world stage.
Spotlight sessions and cross-sector insights
The summit’s sessions reflected the breadth of Africa’s digital economy. Tomike Adeoye outlined her journey from influencer to entrepreneur, while Chichi Nworah and Mykel Parish explored how to scale creative empires across borders.
NCAC Director General Obi Asika joined David Adeleke and Areh to dissect findings from Nigeria’s Creative Economy Report, urging creators to “follow the money”. Elsewhere, filmmaker Orji Emmanuel and Mainstack founder Ayobami Oyaleke examined strategies for profitable branding, while Malik Afegbua offered a vision of AI-powered creativity.
Panels also tackled brand partnerships, the future of streaming, community-building and the shift from creator to entrepreneur, featuring figures such as Tosin Ajibade (Olorisupergal), Sisi Yemmie, and Franklin Ozekhome.
‘At the centre, not the margins’
For convener Areh, the summit underscored a turning point. “Digital Creator Africa is proof that Africa’s creator economy is no longer on the margins; it is at the centre,” she said. “From skitmakers to filmmakers, food influencers to educators, digital product builders to AI enthusiasts, we are showing the full spectrum of talent and giving them the systems, structures, and now capital they need to thrive.”
Backed by the Africa Creative Market — a leading continental platform for trade, collaboration and partnerships — as well as companies including The WildFlower Company, Mainstack and CWAY Group, the summit positioned itself as a launchpad for Africa’s next generation of digital entrepreneurs.
