Building Bridges to Global Influence: Dr. Inya Lawal on Empowering Africa’s Creative Economy Ahead of Africa Creative Market 2025

Welcome to FashionEVO, where we delve into the intersections of creativity, innovation, and culture. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Inya Lawal, a visionary leader and advocate for Africa’s creative economy. As we approach the Africa Creative Market 2025, Dr. Lawal stands at the forefront of a movement aimed at empowering African creatives and embedding their talents into the global innovation economy. In this interview, we’ll explore the bold theme of “Creative Bridge,” the vital ecosystems that need disruption, and the long-term vision for sustainable growth in Africa’s creative landscape. Join us as we uncover Dr. Lawal’s insights on building bridges to global influence and transforming the future of creativity in Africa. ACM

 

1. “Creative Bridge” is a bold theme. Beyond symbolic connections, what structural or systemic bridges do you envision ACM 2025 building between Africa’s creative talent and the global innovation economy?

When we chose “Creative Bridge,” it wasn’t meant as a metaphor—it was a mandate. The bridge we are building is structural. ACM 2025 is not just about creatives meeting investors; it’s about designing enduring frameworks where Africa’s talent is embedded in global innovation pipelines. That means brokering trade agreements that open distribution channels, designing financing models that unlock access to growth capital, and establishing policy dialogues that remove regulatory bottlenecks. It’s about hardwiring African creativity into the circuitry of the global economy, not treating it as an occasional showcase.

2. Global relevance is often seen as the end goal, but many creatives are still struggling for consistent visibility and viable revenue. How is ACM shifting the focus from just spotlighting talent to embedding them in global value chains?

Visibility without sustainability is fragile. At ACM, our focus is not just to showcase talent but to build the systems that help creatives transition into global value chains. We are solution-driven—not just in talking, but in doing. For instance, our hackathon directly tackles the distribution challenges of Africa’s music and film industries, bringing together developers, creators, and investors to co-create practical, scalable solutions. That’s the kind of model we are embedding across the board. ACM is about moving beyond applause to actual architecture: frameworks, policies, and innovations that allow talent to be consistently visible, viable, and valuable on the global stage.

3. You’ve emphasized “Accessing Ecosystems” this year. What specific ecosystems (policy, financial, digital, distribution) are you most intent on disrupting or building from scratch to support long term creative growth?

All of them must be built simultaneously because they reinforce each other. We cannot thrive with one in place and the others absent; the ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest link. Policy is critical—without frameworks for IP protection, tax incentives, and export facilitation, creativity remains under-monetized. Financial systems must be developed to disrupt the absence of structured capital for creative entrepreneurs, with dedicated funds and new risk models. Digital infrastructure is non-negotiable because scalability lives there; a single platform can propel an African creator into global visibility overnight. And distribution is where the promise becomes reality—content must flow freely across the continent and into international markets so that creators are not only producing but exporting at scale.

4. As someone engineering a future facing ecosystem (ACM, Global Tech Africa, the Creative Technology Program) you’re not just building platforms, you’re designing pipelines. What’s the master blueprint tying these initiatives together over the next 5 to 10 years?

The master blueprint is very intentional: build capacity, connect ecosystems, and catalyze capital. ACM is the convening ground where creative value chains intersect. Global Tech Africa expands that by embedding African innovation into global tech frameworks. The Creative Technology Program takes it further by skilling talent at scale for the jobs of the future. And the Africa Creative Blueprint is our structured pipeline for training and then immediately employing creatives through TV series production—turning knowledge into livelihoods.

Over the next decade, these are not standalone initiatives; they are interconnected pipelines. A creator might start in an Africa Creative Blueprint training program, pitch or collaborate at ACM, secure financing through our networks, and scale globally via GTA. The connective tissue is continuity—a designed pathway from idea to institution, from local talent to global competitiveness.

5. ACM brings together creators, financiers, policy makers, and tech disruptors. What kind of unexpected collaborations or business models do you hope will be sparked this year and what would it take for them to outlast the event?

The most powerful collaborations happen at intersections. I want to see fintech companies co-designing payment systems with musicians to solve royalty transparency. I want policy makers and tech startups co-developing IP registries powered by blockchain. I want film producers and telcos building data-driven distribution models. For these collaborations to outlast ACM, we have to anchor them in structured agreements, provide ongoing support through our platforms, and hold partners accountable to deliverables. Events spark; ecosystems sustain. Our role is to ensure the spark lights an enduring flame

6. Inclusivity in the African context often stops at representation. How is ACM 2025 reimagining access, not just who gets seen, but who gets paid, protected, and positioned to scale, especially for grassroots and underserved creatives?

Representation without redistribution is hollow. At ACM 2025, inclusivity means ensuring underserved creatives not only get visibility but also access to funding, legal protections, and scalable opportunities. We’re doing this through subsidized participation for grassroots talent, legal advisory clinics on IP, and targeted accelerator programs that pair emerging voices with global mentors. The focus is not only on whose story is told, but on whose bank account grows, whose rights are defended, and whose ventures can scale sustainably beyond ACM.

7. If you could change three policies tomorrow that would unlock exponential growth in Africa’s creative economy, be it IP, exports, funding frameworks, digital infrastructure, what would they be, and why haven’t they happened yet?

First, enforceable intellectual property rights that protect creators’ work across borders. Second, tax incentives and financing frameworks that treat creative industries as seriously as agriculture or oil. Third, digital infrastructure policies that make broadband and streaming affordable across the continent.

These policies haven’t happened yet because the creative economy is still seen as soft power rather than hard economics. That said, I have noticed that policymakers have started listening, and that in itself is a good development. The creative sector is finally on the lips of many. What we need now is for them to go beyond awareness and truly understand the sector so they can give it the correct, targeted support it deserves.

8. Sustainability in the creative economy isn’t just about funding, it’s about continuity. How is ACM helping creatives move from one off opportunities to building institutions and legacies that outlive trends and hashtags?

ACM is designed as an institution-building platform. We emphasize long-term skills over short-term showcases. That means legal frameworks to formalize enterprises, financial literacy to manage revenues, and matchmaking that results in recurring collaborations. More importantly, we’re setting up monitoring mechanisms so participants don’t just vanish after the event. Our commitment is to help creatives build companies, cooperatives, and collectives that become legacy institutions—outliving hashtags and riding out the volatility of trends.

9. Numbers are one measure of success, but transformation is another. What are the ripple effects (visible or invisible) you hope will signal that ACM 2025 actually moved the needle?

The visible ripple effects will be deals signed, policies shifted, and investments announced. But the invisible ones matter just as much: a young creative finally understanding their value chain, a government minister rethinking a policy after a panel, a multinational realizing Africa is not a CSR destination but a viable market. Transformation is often subtle at first—but when you zoom out, those invisible ripples become waves that reshape the entire ecosystem.

10. You’ve been at the forefront of building creative infrastructure from both top-down and bottom-up. What is still missing in the ecosystem, and what are you most personally obsessed with solving in this next chapter?

What’s missing is patient capital. We have creativity in abundance, but we lack investors willing to play the long game. I am obsessed with solving financing for the creative economy—structuring funds, designing risk models, and building trust between creators and financiers. Infrastructure is critical, yes, but without capital, it remains underutilized. In this next chapter, my focus is on ensuring that creativity is not only celebrated but also capitalized.

 

11. On a more personal level, you’ve poured so much into the continent’s creative future. When you think about legacy (not just ACM’s but your own) what would you want to be remembered for shaping or leaving behind?

I want my legacy to be ecosystems that outlive me. If people remember me, let it be as someone who built bridges where there were walls, who turned potential into prosperity, and who ensured that Africa’s creative economy had not just a voice, but a seat at the global table. For ACM and for all my initiatives, my hope is that long after the events end, the institutions remain—thriving, growing, and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger than I ever did.

 

Thank you for joining us in this enlightening conversation with Dr. Inya Lawal. Her insights remind us that the journey towards empowering Africa’s creative economy is not just about recognition but about building sustainable frameworks that ensure visibility, viability, and value for all creatives. As we look forward to Africa Creative Market 2025, it’s clear that the work being done is not just about today but about laying the groundwork for future generations. Dr. Lawal’s vision and commitment to fostering a thriving creative ecosystem inspire us all to dream bigger and strive for a more inclusive and prosperous future. Stay tuned with FashionEVO as we continue to highlight the stories and initiatives that shape our world.