The Bank of Industry (BOI) has agreed to partner with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for the National Summit and Exhibition on Orange Economy, scheduled for October 6 to 8, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts (National Theatre) in Lagos. The announcement came during a courtesy visit by the summit's organising committee, led by NIPSS Director-General Prof. Ayo Omotayo, to BOI Managing Director Dr Olasupo Olusi at the bank's headquarters in Lagos on Monday, August 17.
Dr Olusi emphasised that BOI seeks an active role beyond sponsorship, stating, "We don't just want to be a sponsor but partners. We want to play a key role in forming the whole event and all the activities around it." He highlighted the bank's dedicated creative division and described BOI as the most active development institution in Nigeria, financing the creative sector.
BOI's Commitment to the Creative Sector
Olusi assured the committee of full support, saying, "Count on BOI support because of our big influence in the creative sector." He encouraged organisers to approach other like-minded institutions, noting that the summit serves national development, economic growth, and job creation. The collaboration underscores the bank's strategic focus on the creative economy as a driver of Nigeria's economic diversification.
The summit is part of a broader research initiative by NIPSS, which has been ongoing for four years, aimed at mapping a pathway towards President Bola Tinubu's target of growing Nigeria's economy to $1 trillion by 2030. Prof. Omotayo revealed that the president personally approved the Orange Economy as this year's theme of study and directed NIPSS to commence work immediately.
Research and Field Visits Underway
Seven groups of 15 participants each have already conducted field visits to institutions in Abuja, seven Nigerian states, and 14 countries across Africa and beyond. "Our experts are putting their reports together," Omotayo said, adding that findings will be delivered to the President in November. The summit is designed to build momentum around this research before the report is finalised, providing a platform for stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue.
Former Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, serving as Managing Partner of Bruit Costaud, the summit's consulting firm, explained the choice of venue. He described the National Theatre as the natural home for conversations about Nigeria's creative future, having served as the historic centre of African arts and culture since FESTAC '77.
Why Lagos and the National Theatre
Mohammed called Lagos the undisputed creative capital of Nigeria and one of Africa's foremost hubs for music, film, fashion, and digital creativity. He noted that the Orange Economy spans 48 subsectors and is among the most complex and relevant economies globally, with potential to account for scores of millions of jobs when informal sector numbers are included.
The organising committee also included Prof. Sola Adeyanju, Mr Gabriel Idahosa, Mr Nosakhare Uwadiae, Mr Steve Babaeko, Mrs Olayemi Alaka, and Mr Segun Adeyemi. The summit is expected to attract stakeholders from the creative industry, government, and development finance institutions, reinforcing Nigeria's commitment to leveraging the orange economy for economic growth and job creation.
