To ensure Africa—especially Nigeria—captures long-term economic value from cultural exports, policymakers must advance ambitious reforms centered on local value retention, market competitiveness, and African-led growth models.
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Prof. Olufunmilayo Arewa
On 11 December 2025, Professor Olufunmilayo Arewa presented key findings of CSASE's 2025 Afrobeats Inaugural Policy Report at an expert roundtable in Lagos, Nigeria. Entitled Afrobeats: Global Rise, Local Realities, and the Future of African Music Economies, this landmark study explores the remarkable growth, cultural influence, and economic potential of the Afrobeats sector, highlighting Africa's global creative leadership and providing recommendations for ensuring that the gains of the sector's global expansion equitably accrue to Africa's creatives. The roundtable was attended by distinguished representatives of Nigeria's creative industries and featured contributions from, most notably, Mrs. Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Lagos State; Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Esq., former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); Mrs. Kike Aluko Wahutu, Advisory Board Chair, African Creative Economies (ACE) Initiative; and Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder & CEO, Rise Networks.
