The Lagos State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has described Afrobeats as a powerful economic engine and one of Africa’s most valuable global exports.
Eko Hot News reports that the Commissioner made the statement at the global launch of the 2025 Afrobeats Inaugural Policy Report by Harvard University’s Centre for African Societies and Economies, in collaboration with Rise Interactive Studios, held in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Addressing scholars, policymakers, and creative industry leaders, Benson-Awoyinka said Afrobeats has evolved beyond entertainment into a driver of economic growth, job creation, and global cultural influence.
She noted that Lagos has emerged as a creative megacity, hosting many of Africa’s leading artists, producers, and innovative entrepreneurs with growing international impact.
The Commissioner stated that the Sanwo-Olu administration, under the THEMES Plus Agenda, has expanded talent development initiatives, strengthened cultural infrastructure, and established global partnerships to position Lagos as Africa’s cultural and entertainment hub.
She aligned the state’s efforts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the orange economy, including music, film, fashion, gaming, animation, and design, as key drivers of national development.
Benson-Awoyinka stressed that Afrobeats’ long-term sustainability requires stronger legal and economic frameworks, calling for reforms in intellectual property protection, royalty systems, creative financing, and anti-piracy enforcement.
She emphasised that protecting creators and valuing their work is critical for Afrobeats to mature into a stable global industry, commending Harvard Law School for advancing research on IP rights in African creative sectors.
The Commissioner paid tribute to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, noting that his revolutionary sound laid the foundation for the global Afrobeats movement.
She praised the 2025 Afrobeats Policy Report as the first comprehensive framework providing policymakers and investors with a long-term strategy for developing the Afrobeats economy.
Benson-Awoyinka reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to building Africa’s most vibrant creative economy and invited global investors and institutions to partner with the state.
