By Aderonke Ojo
The Federal Government has unveiled plans for the Afrocentric Cultural Expo 2026, with organisers projecting more than N125 million in direct economic injection into Nigeria’s local economy.
The announcement was made on Friday in Abuja at a World Press Conference ahead of the 10-day Pan-African cultural and economic event scheduled for November 7 to November 18 ,2026 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex.
The Expo is being organised by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in collaboration with the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce-USA (NICOCUSA) and the Afrocentric Global Expo Organising Committee.
Gregory Uche, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NICOCUSA, said the Expo was conceived as a Pan-African platform to promote Africa’s culture, creativity, business and investment opportunities globally.
Uche said the project was initially conceived about eight years ago in Los Angeles, United States, as a platform where Africans and members of the diaspora could converge, unite and celebrate their heritage while creating economic opportunities.
“This project is not for Nigeria alone. It is for the entire Africa. It is designed and created to be the largest cultural platform globally,” he said.
According to him, the Expo will feature 12 major events running simultaneously during the 10-day programme, with the broader objective of positioning Nigeria as a leading global cultural authority and correcting negative perceptions about the country through its arts, fashion, music, food and creative industries.
“Look at what our arts and fashion are doing and how they are helping to recalibrate the wrong perceptions that people have formed over the years about Nigeria,” Uche said.
He said the Afrocentric Music Festival would provide a major platform for discovering and developing emerging artistes, disclosing that about 300 artistes had already registered to participate.
“We want to discover more talent, the future Davido, the future Burna Boy, and package them not only to entertain us here but also as some of the greatest exports that we have,” he said.
Uche also highlighted the Afrocentric Fashion Week, which he said would focus on the entire fashion value chain, from cotton production and harvesting to textile processing, weaving, distribution and finished products.
He noted that the initiative would also draw attention to Nigeria’s textile industry and the potential of Kaduna to regain its position as a major textile manufacturing centre.
Another component, the African Women Are Gorgeous (AWAG) International programme, he said, would celebrate African women for their achievements in business, politics, economics, academia and other fields.
While highlighting their intellectual capacity and cultural heritage beyond conventional beauty and runway displays.
He added that the Expo would feature the Afrocentric Cultural Dance programme to showcase the richness and diversity of African traditional and contemporary dance, as well as the Afrocentric University Intellectual Debate, aimed at promoting African academic excellence and encouraging students to explore educational opportunities within the continent.
Uche said the Custodians of African Heritage Awards, also known as the Kings and Queens Awards, would honour traditional rulers for their role in preserving African heritage.
“ We created this to honour the custodians of our heritage — our traditional rulers. We want emirs, sultans, Igwes, Obas, Onis and other traditional leaders from across Africa to come to Nigeria to receive recognition,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Afrocentric Food Expo would showcase African cuisine and its growing acceptance in international markets, while the Afrocentric Film Festival would provide opportunities for graduating film students and emerging filmmakers from Nigeria and other African countries to showcase their productions.
Uche said the NICOCUSA Business Summit would serve as the business component connecting the various activities, with emphasis on investment, trade, partnerships and market opportunities.
“ We want Nigeria to be the centre. This project is a Pan-African movement. It is a Pan-African project,” he said.
He stressed that the initiative could not succeed without collaboration among governments, the private sector, international organisations and other institutions, adding that the inaugural edition would be held in Nigeria before efforts are expanded to other African countries in subsequent editions.
Uche also explained that the original unveiling was scheduled to take place at the Abuja City Gate, but the programme was relocated due to unfavourable weather conditions. He thanked the organising team, ministry officials, partners, delegates and the media for supporting the unveiling.
Representing the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Job Creation, Jemma Amachree, said the Expo had the potential to redefine how the world sees, experiences and engages with Africa.
Amachree said the initiative was designed to enable Africa to reclaim its narrative and derive greater economic value from its cultural and creative resources, noting that African art, fashion, music, film and cuisine had enriched the global stage while the economic benefits had often failed to reach the creators.
“In strategic partnership with NICOCUSA, driven by the dedication of Gregory Uche and his team, the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is bringing the world to Nigeria,” she said.
She said the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex would be transformed into a major centre for African heritage, culture, creativity and enterprise during the Expo, describing the initiative as more than a festival but a major economic activation.
According to her, the organisers are projecting more than N125 million in direct economic injection into the local economy, while over 1,000 exhibition booths would be available to vendors, entrepreneurs and large-scale enterprises.
She said the programme would combine music, film, fashion, business and investment while connecting Africa with its diaspora in the Americas, Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
Amachree said the Expo had the potential to rival the historic grandeur of FESTAC ’77, with programmes including intellectual debates, heritage awards and activities celebrating African youth, while stressing that culture must be treated not only as heritage but also as an economic asset capable of driving jobs, investment, innovation and sustainable development.
“Our ambition is not simply to organise an event, but to build an institutional platform with lasting economic and cultural impact,” she said, calling on Nigerians, Africans, members of the diaspora, investors, businesses and other stakeholders to support and participate in the initiative.
Meanwhile, Michael Igwe-Kalu, Project Manager, Strategic Marketing Partnership Network (SMPN), said the organisation would support the Expo by connecting African students, entrepreneurs, creatives and businesses with global corporations, investors and institutions.
“If I had access to an opportunity like this in my early years after graduation, I believe I would have connected with many more global corporations, exchanged ideas with international partners and gained access to opportunities that could have helped me develop my dreams,” he said.
Igwe-Kalu said SMPN representatives would serve as strategic marketing partners by identifying and bringing global corporations, investors, institutions, businesses and strategic organisations into the Expo as partners and participants, adding that the platform would facilitate connections, investment opportunities, product showcases and lasting business relationships.
“Our message is clear: connect, collaborate and transform Africa,” he said, adding that SMPN would also provide structured referral and marketing opportunities for eligible representatives while creating access for young graduates, entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives seeking international markets and partnerships.
The organisers said the 10-day Expo would provide an environment for participants to connect, exchange ideas, collaborate, market, invest and build relationships beyond the event, with the ultimate objective of positioning Nigeria as a leading destination for African culture and creativity and strengthening the connection between Africa and the global marketplace.
