Nigeria will break CANEX records, win Jollof Rice war — Jumoke Oduwole

The The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said Tuesday that Nigeria is preparing to surpass previous edition of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Weekend when it hosts the event in Lagos from November 5 to 8, 2026.

The minister said this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the CANEX Steering Committee at the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President at the State House in Abuja.

She said Nigeria’s creative talent, technological strength and economic size gave it the capacity to deliver a landmark event and to settle the enduring West African argument over jollof rice.

“I’ll hold my numbers to my chest, but just watch this space. We’re going to break every record of every CANEX to date.

“Whether from sports, food—Jollof Wars, there’s no way we’re not going to win; fashion across the board; literary arts, Nobel laureates. Nigeria has been a leader in this creative space,” she said.

She said the government wanted CANEX to produce investments, exports and jobs, beyond its exhibitions and performances.
She declined to give financial or employment projections ahead of the event.

“For the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all states of the Federation, CANEX is much more than a celebration of African creativity. It is a platform for trade, investment, enterprise and market access,” she said.

According to the minister, Nigerian businesses in music, film, fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, sports and technology could earn far more if they gained better access to finance, distribution networks and international markets.

“The opportunity before us is to capture more of the economic value generated by that creativity. That means connecting our creators and creative businesses to finance, investors, distribution, technology and international markets. CANEX must translate connections into transactions,” she said.

She disclosed that the government was engaging international providers of creative finance, including potential backers of Nollywood enterprises.

Investment deal rooms at CANEX would bring creators together with financiers, investors and distributors to pursue commercial agreements.

The minister said all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would have pavilions to present their cultural heritage, creative businesses and investment opportunities.

She said the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC) had endorsed their participation.

The minister linked the event to the legacy of FESTAC ’77, saying the revamped National Theatre in Lagos would provide a fitting place to welcome visitors from Africa and the diaspora.

She also pointed to Nigeria’s preparations to host the Intra-African Trade Fair in Lagos in 2027.

“Come to Lagos from 5 to 8 November. Come ready to connect, to invest, to trade and to do business. Nigeria is ready to welcome Africa and the world,” she said.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said Nigerian diplomatic missions would publicise CANEX abroad and help mobilise international participation.

He said the ministry would also work with immigration authorities on visa matters and coordinate arrivals and protocol for foreign guests.

Describing the creative industries as an asset for diplomacy, the minister said CANEX offered Nigeria an opportunity to put its cultural influence to greater use.

“For us at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we see CANEX as a demonstration of Nigeria’s soft power, a critical element of diplomacy in this day and age,” he said.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, pledged dedicated security personnel and professional, welcoming policing for participants and visitors.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, said four teams had been established to handle visa guidance, visa issuance, urgent immigration cases and airport protocol.

“Our guests’ very first contact in Nigeria will be with an immigration officer. That is not lost on us. So I can assure you, what we’re bringing to the table is extreme ‘hostmanship’,” she said.

She explained that an escalation team would attend to last-minute applications and other pressing difficulties, while officers at the airport would help visitors move smoothly through entry procedures.

The Nigeria Customs Service said it would facilitate the temporary importation and clearance of exhibition materials, with a senior officer assigned to assist the process.

Lagos state government said it was preparing healthcare, emergency response and traffic arrangements for the expected visitors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Arts and Culture, Moriam Ajaga, urged Nigerian creatives and businesses to register for the event and use it to present their work to potential partners and buyers.