By: Business day

Strategic policy frameworks, digital connectivity, and investment in skills are essential for building a thriving creative economy across Africa, according to global leaders and policymakers.

While speaking at a session titled ‘Policy Frameworks for a Thriving Creative Economy’ in Moonshot by TechCabal on Thursday, stakeholders from Finland, Ghana, the EU, and Nigeria shared insights on how governance, technology, and trust can fuel creative growth.

Experts noted that as the creative sector gains momentum across the continent, governments must move from recognition to action by creating environments where imagination meets investment, and creativity drives inclusive growth. It requires policy coherence, digital access, education, and international collaboration.

Sanna Selin, Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, emphasised that Finland’s creative success is rooted in three guiding principles, which are quality education, equal access to technology, and societal trust.

“From early years, we teach children to imagine and question; not just in art but in science,” Selin said. “Trust is the infrastructure that helps innovation flourish. We’ve built policies recognising that creativity contributes to GDP and attracts investment, even though it’s not always easy.”

Selin also noted that connectivity and digital access remain fundamental to creativity’s growth, urging governments to design inclusive policies that link inspiration with infrastructure.

Yussif Jajah, Ghana’s deputy minister of Creative Arts, stressed the need for sector-specific policies that address the unique challenges of the creative industry.

“To sustain the creative sector, we must be mindful of its requirements. In Ghana, we have taken deliberate steps to establish institutions and invest in skill development. Our connectivity infrastructure is improving, and we’re positioning tourism and the arts as major economic drivers,” he stated.

Massimo De Luca, EU head of cooperation in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of partnerships between regions and the need to rethink how digital infrastructure supports creativity.

“Partnership is key. We are collaborating on projects, such as museums, and exploring spaces for Nigerian visual art. Infrastructure will never be enough, but what truly matters is how creatively we use connectivity,” he noted.