Entertainment Week Lagos

Nigeria’s creative industry faces a significant challenge: a widening skills gap and a growing exodus of talented professionals leaving for foreign opportunities, leading to a detrimental "brain drain." Young Nigerian creatives are lacking local opportunities for mentorship, growth, and sustainable careers, causing a critical loss of potential and hindering the development of a vibrant creative economy in the country. The lack of well-structured ecosystems to support and retain this talent makes it difficult for Nigeria to harness the full power of its youth to contribute to the nation’s growth.

To address this issue, Entertainment Week Lagos (EWL) was conceived as a free-for-all convention that not only bridges the skills gap but also connects local talent with global opportunities. EWL serves as a comprehensive event designed to foster knowledge-sharing, innovation, and collaboration across the entertainment and creative sectors. This initiative combines masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions, live performances, exhibitions, and talent showcases to empower Nigeria's youth. EWL 2024's theme, "Connecting Tides," focused on reversing the brain drain by building sustainable ecosystems that nurture and retain talent. It provides direct access to both local and global industry icons and mentors, equipping young creatives with the tools and connections needed to thrive in an ever-evolving creative economy. By encouraging local-international networking and collaboration, EWL stimulates interest and investment in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape, positioning it as a global hub for talent.

Entertainment Week Lagos (EWL) is an annual destination event in Lagos that brings together an array of industry experts, thought leaders, creatives, and enthusiasts from both local and international backgrounds. It is a dynamic mix of education, innovation, and entertainment designed to foster the growth of Nigeria's creative ecosystem. Throughout the convention, EWL promoted key themes that addressed critical aspects of the entertainment and creative industries, such as the integration of emerging technologies, upskilling the next generation of professionals, and unlocking growth for startups and entrepreneurs. From sunrise to sunset, EWL 2024 was alive with energy. Each day unfolded with an impressive lineup of thought-leaders and dignitaries across industries who led panel sessions, workshops, think tanks, and masterclasses, offering participants a space to share ideas and spark meaningful conversations. The event also goes beyond learning to facilitate genuine connections between young creatives and seasoned professionals, thus fostering a supportive community where talent can grow, innovate, and collaborate.