By Simpson Global Media News Desk
ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: 30 October 2026
EVENT DATE: Thursday, 12 November 2026
EVENT TIME: Registration and arrival from 8:00 a.m. WAT
VENUE: Alliance Française de Lagos, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria.
REPORT DATE: 30 October 2026.
Organisers unveil participants for 11th edition
Nigeria's entertainment industry is preparing for another major industry gathering as organisers of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) unveil a lineup of actors, filmmakers, music executives, technology professionals and creative entrepreneurs for the 2026 edition.
The announcement, published on 30 October, highlights participants from different parts of the entertainment value chain, including film and television, music publishing, talent management, digital media, sound culture and creative business leadership.
The flagship conference is scheduled for Thursday, 12 November 2026, at Alliance Française de Lagos, also known as the Mike Adenuga Centre, in Ikoyi.
The 11th edition will operate under the theme, “Home Advantage: Transforming Local Demand into Global Power.”
The organisers intend to examine how Nigeria's substantial domestic audience for music, films, fashion and digital entertainment can generate stronger businesses, increase local ownership and create greater economic value.
The event is organised by ID Africa and its partners.
A broad representation of Nigeria's creative industries
The announced participants reflect the different professional activities that contribute to Nigeria's entertainment industry.
In film and television, the lineup includes actors Genoveva Umeh, Femi Adebayo, Chimezie Imo, Uzoamaka Power and Efa Iwara.
Filmmakers Kayode Kasum, Dika Ofoma and Editi Effiong are also among the names associated with the conference programme.
Their participation brings together performers and professionals involved in directing, producing, storytelling and developing screen productions.
Genoveva Umeh is known for her work in productions including Blood Sisters and Breath of Life. Femi Adebayo has built a profile as an actor, filmmaker and producer, with projects including Jagun Jagun and Seven Doors.
Kayode Kasum has directed films including Ajosepo and Afamefuna: An Nwa Boi Story, while Dika Ofoma has worked across filmmaking and cultural journalism.
The organisers' selection reflects an effort to bring different creative experiences into conversations about the future of Nigerian screen entertainment.
Music executives to examine the business behind the sound
The business of music is another major component of NECLive 2026.
The announced participants include Godwin Tom of Sony Music Publishing Nigeria, entertainment lawyer Foza Fawehinmi, AWAL executive Excel Joab, music executive Bizzle Osikoya and talent manager Femisoro Ajayi.
Their professional backgrounds cover music publishing, artist development, legal and commercial arrangements, talent representation and the wider business relationships that support music careers.
Music publishing and intellectual property management are important parts of the music economy because they influence how songs are licensed, administered and monetised.
For Nigerian musicians seeking wider international audiences, the ability to manage rights, negotiate commercial agreements and develop sustainable partnerships can be as important as achieving popularity.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for discussing these issues and the opportunities available to local music businesses.
Sound, culture and audience development
The sound and culture segment includes DJ Obi, gospel musician Greatman Takit, Dr Foy, media personality Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and entertainment entrepreneur Tobi Mohammed.
DJ Obi is recognised for his work as a disc jockey and for setting a Guinness World Records mark for the longest DJ set.
Greatman Takit represents the gospel music community, while the other participants bring experience from media, entertainment management and event development.
Their presence reflects the growing importance of live experiences, music communities, audience engagement and cultural platforms in the entertainment economy.
Nigeria's entertainment sector increasingly operates across several connected spaces: recorded music, live performances, radio, digital platforms, social media and brand partnerships.
The ability to connect these activities can determine how effectively artists and businesses turn public attention into long-term commercial opportunities.
Technology and business leadership enter the conversation
Technology is also represented in the announced lineup through Joseph Enesu, who leads AI Labs at Plaqad.
Other participants in the business and leadership segment include Njideka Akabogu of ID Africa, Iretomiwa Akintunde-Johnson of BHM, fashion entrepreneur Oluwaseye Oladejo and TSC Agency founder Ozinna Anumudu.
Their inclusion reflects the growing relationship between entertainment, technology, marketing, fashion and business development.
Artificial intelligence and digital tools are changing how creative companies produce, distribute, promote and analyse content.
However, the commercial benefits depend on how businesses apply these technologies, protect creative rights and develop sustainable operating models.
The conference provides an opportunity to examine these questions alongside the wider challenges facing Nigeria's creative businesses.
Local demand and the challenge of turning popularity into value
The central idea behind this year's theme is that international recognition alone does not guarantee sustainable economic success for Nigerian creators.
Nigerian music, films and digital content have attracted audiences beyond the country's borders. Yet the ability to convert that visibility into local investment, ownership, employment and stable revenue remains an important challenge.
A successful entertainment industry requires more than talented performers and popular productions.
It also depends on financing, distribution, intellectual property protection, professional management, reliable infrastructure and access to paying audiences.
The domestic market is particularly important because it provides the foundation from which creative businesses can develop and expand.
When local audiences support productions, concerts, streaming services, fashion brands and other creative products, the resulting revenue can strengthen the businesses responsible for producing them.
The organisers want the conference to explore how that relationship can become more productive.
Creative economy research informs the 2026 discussions
The 2026 edition follows the publication of The State of Nigeria's Creative Economy 2026, a research report produced in partnership with Frontyard.
The report draws on responses from 377 creative professionals across eight sectors.
The research provides a basis for examining the experiences of people working within the creative economy, including the opportunities and difficulties affecting different parts of the industry.
By connecting research with conversations involving practitioners and executives, NECLive aims to move discussions beyond general claims about the potential of Nigeria's entertainment industry.
The important questions include how creative businesses can raise capital, protect intellectual property, build distribution networks, improve professional standards and retain more value from the work they produce.
A platform for networking and industry partnerships
NECLive has developed into a meeting point for entertainment professionals, business leaders, investors, media organisations and emerging creatives.
Its annual gathering provides opportunities for participants to exchange ideas, discuss industry challenges and establish professional relationships.
For emerging filmmakers, musicians and entrepreneurs, such meetings can offer access to experienced industry figures and a clearer understanding of the commercial structures behind creative careers.
For established businesses, the conference can provide an opportunity to identify partnerships and discuss changes affecting the market.
The organisers have also indicated that further participants and programme details may be announced before the event.
Comedian and compere Tee A is returning as host for the 2026 edition.
Sponsors and partners
NECLive 2026 is presented by ID Africa and Netng, with partners including Plaqad, The Macallan, MTN Nigeria, BHM and Huce Valeris.
The involvement of organisations from telecommunications, technology, media and business reflects the conference's wider focus on the relationship between creative production and commercial development.
Partnerships can provide funding, distribution opportunities, technology and promotional support, although their long-term contribution depends on the value they create for the creative professionals and businesses involved.
What attendees should know
The flagship conference will take place on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at Alliance Française de Lagos, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi.
Registration and arrival are scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. West Africa Time.
The official NECLive website lists several ticket categories, including student, individual, duo and corporate options. The organisers also provide processes for requesting invitations and complimentary passes, subject to review and approval.
Interested participants can consult the official conference website for ticket information, programme updates and access arrangements.
What the conference could mean for Nigeria's entertainment industry
The entertainment industry has become an important part of Nigeria's cultural visibility and creative entrepreneurship.
However, the next phase of growth will depend on whether popularity can translate into stronger businesses, better professional structures and opportunities that reach beyond a relatively small group of established names.
Conversations around intellectual property, financing, technology, distribution and audience development are therefore central to the sector's future.
NECLive 2026 is expected to bring these issues together through discussions involving professionals from different parts of the creative economy.
The conference's theme places particular emphasis on the value of Nigeria's domestic market and the need to build stronger commercial foundations at home.
Whether the discussions lead to practical partnerships and lasting improvements will depend on the actions taken by industry participants after the event.
For now, the announcement of the speaker lineup marks another step towards the 11th edition of a conference seeking to connect Nigeria's creative talent with the business systems needed to sustain its growth.
Official information: NECLive — https://nec.ng/
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