For the third year in a row, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has lent its support to the Africa Creative Market, furthering the collaboration between the U.S. and Nigeria in the creative sector.
Established by Dr. Inya Lawal, a graduate of the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, the Africa Creative Market serves as a platform for stakeholders from Africa and beyond to connect, share ideas, and explore new innovations aimed at advancing Africa’s creative economy.
This year’s event featured two prominent U.S. industry figures – Steffan Horowitz, from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Creative TV (ACTV) exchange program, and Dedren Snead, CEO of the Atlanta-based transmedia company, SUBSUME Studios. With support from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, both participated in the weeklong conference. U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay joined Horowitz and Nigerian participants of the Africa Creative TV exchange program to discuss ways to bridge African creatives with global audiences, offering valuable insights for filmmakers, producers, and content creators.
In addition, Snead led a workshop on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the role of digital platforms in amplifying African stories worldwide. He explored how animation and gaming can help create immersive experiences that promote African narratives on a global stage.
The event also included the AWE 2.0 Initiative, which brought together 150 alumnae from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs for a three-day immersive program designed to enhance their digital skills and help scale their businesses. Snead engaged with these women, highlighting the U.S. government’s dedication to supporting women-led enterprises and providing them with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.