Music consultant, educator, and entrepreneur Leke Abiola has urged the government and stakeholders in the creative industry to establish structured creative hubs across the country.
Abiola, who was part of an international delegation that recently visited China for a specialised training programme on the construction of development zones, made the call in a statement made available to Sunday PUNCH.
The event, hosted at the Academy for International Business Officials in Beijing, drew participants from several countries.
Drawing from the insights he gained while representing Nigeria at the programme, Abiola said the establishment of creative hubs in the country would promote innovation, education, and collaboration in the creative industry.
He noted that such structures are essential for nurturing young talents, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the country’s global competitiveness in the creative space.
During the programme, Abiola toured some of China’s leading development zones, industrial parks, and technology hubs, according to the statement.
Reflecting on his experience, Abiola said China’s strategic approach to development offered profound lessons for Nigeria, particularly its creative sector.
“The lessons go beyond economics and construction. In music and the arts, we also need structured ‘development zones’—creative hubs where innovation, education, and collaboration can thrive,” he added.
According to him, Nigeria’s creative economy—one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors—stands to benefit significantly from adopting models that blend culture with technology and long-term planning.
“Nigeria’s creative economy can accelerate if we adopt models that combine cultural strength with business intelligence, technology, and global collaboration,” he said.
The delegation also visited cultural landmarks, including the Great Wall of China, offering participants a deeper understanding of how China balances tradition and modernity in its development model.
