The 2025 edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) took place on Friday, 28 November 2025, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The day’s activities were anchored by Bolanle Olukanni and Tee A, who guided conversations and kept the flow of the event steady from start to finish.
The event opened with a welcome conversation led by Ayeni Adekunle, Convener of NECLive and Founder/CEO of BHM Holdings, moderated by CNN’s Lamide Akintobi.
The discussion set the tone for the conference by examining how creativity has become one of Africa’s strongest economic, cultural and diplomatic tools. Ayeni spoke on the vision behind NECLive and plans for the future, sharing that the goal is to expand the platform beyond its annual format.
He further emphasised BHM’s commitment to projecting Nigeria to global audiences, stating, “BHM, we want to show the world that Nigeria communication can be better. There is a need for the world.”
The conference featured multiple panel sessions that explored various aspects of Africa’s creative economy.
Steve Babaeko, Founder and CEO of X3M Ideas, delivered the lead address, “From Hustle to Infrastructure: The Blueprint for Africa’s Creative Economy.” He spoke of the urgent need for long-term infrastructure to sustain creative work, explaining that talent cannot grow without functioning systems such as power supply, production spaces, distribution structures and digital frameworks.
One of the major conversations was a panel discussion on the systems required to power Africa’s economic growth through the creative industry, featuring Steve Babaeko, Moliehi Molekoa, Shaibu Husseini and Colette Otusheso, moderated by Seyitan Atigarin of Arise News.
The discussion focused on the essential framework needed to elevate the industry, including physical production spaces, distribution systems, royalty structures, access to funding, technology adoption and reliable utilities.
Another panel explored the idea of powering Africa through creative enterprise. Panellists Dolapo Amusat, Chichi Nwoko, Yinka Obebe, Hauwa Lawal and AFRIMA President Mike Dada, moderated by Henry Ekechukwu, discussed the roles of policy, innovation, global partnerships and sustainable monetisation in developing the sector.
They also examined AI, Gen Z culture, platform-building and the importance of creating content with long-term value.
There was also a panel session titled “Timeless vs Trending: Building Work That Endures,” brought to the conference by The Macallan. Educated by Daniel Atteh and featuring Hammed Adebiyi, Mai Atafo, Beauty Tukura, Ayeni Adekunle and Njideka Akabogu Eke-Uche, the conversation looked at the balance between enduring craftsmanship and fast-moving trends.
The participants discussed how discipline, heritage and innovation can complement each other to produce work that stands the test of time and elevates creative standards across different industries.
Other keynote conversations and sessions also held during the day, including discussions on digital access, global innovation and the evolving creative landscape.
The event included a special musical performance by Gaise Baba.
Speaking with HIPTV, some panellists highlighted the impact of NECLive on Nigeria and Africa’s creative sectors, emphasising its role in uniting stakeholders and shaping industry-wide conversations.
Ayeni Adekunle also spoke with HipTV about the future of the African creative economy and shared words of encouragement for young creatives striving to break boundaries and push the sector forward.
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