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After 10 years in a single city, the conference will now hold simultaneously in other parts of Nigeria; as well as in key cities across Africa, Europe, and America. These changes, according to founder is considered a matter of necessity, given where the industry is today; and in line with the new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.’
Conceived a decade ago in 2013 by Ayeni Adekunle, the conference convener, at a time when the Nigerian entertainment industry was grappling with challenges such as piracy and talent monetisation, among others, NECLive helped to facilitate conversations, workshops, and interventions that assisted in building a strong and successful entertainment industry, putting the African creative business on the global map.
In a message to partners and stakeholders, Ayeni explains: "Today, we are now faced with even bigger problems and opportunities. And I believe that it’s time to begin making sure Africa’s creators and everyone else in the value chain; as well as our societies and economies, get the maximum possible value from our contribution to, and growing participation in the global entertainment marketplace.”
To face and help answer these emerging questions, NECLive is taking a new format. Here are five key takeaways you should know from NECLive Special 10-Year anniversary announcement.
A New Goal
With some of the identified problems affecting the African entertainment industry a decade ago largely resolved, the organisers of NECLive are overhauling the conference format given where the industry is today and in line with the new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.
For the next decade, NECLive will focus on spotlighting the challenges facing the African entertainment industry and providing innovative ideas through engaging industry experts and leaders. While the industry has witnessed commendable growth in recent years, the majority of those working in the industry earn poor to average incomes, and creators still struggle to monetize their work. The mission of NECLive will be to build the most impactful platform for knowledge, leadership, and influence, in order to empower African creators to deliver maximum value for themselves, their sponsors, and states.
15 Cities Across the Globe
Starting in 2024, the show will be hosted in different cities from London to New York, Nairobi, Kigali, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Accra, Edinburgh, Atlanta, Johannesburg, and more.
Starting April 24, 2024, the event will be decentralize with shows, workshops, exhibitions, and more taking place all over the world. Nigeria will however retain the flagship events which will take place in Lagos and other Nigerian cities.
End of 1-Day Event
With plans to host NECLive in at least 15 cities worldwide, the annual conference will no longer be a one-day event held in Lagos. While the inaugural event will still be held in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, in April 2024, the event will now spread over four weeks, from April 25 every year, and culminate in a global television broadcast on Africa Day, May 25. The series of events will include workshops, special reports, sprints, deal days, conferences, concerts, etc.
Vision for the Next 10 Years
Since NECLive debuted in 2013, the Nigerian entertainment industry’s revenue has grown from $4 billion in 2013 to $9 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit $10.7 billion before the end of 2023. A report by Dataleum, a global talent accelerator, ranked skit-making as the third-largest entertainment industry in Nigeria, with a net worth of over N50 billion. Nollywood, with an estimated worth of $6.4 billion in 2021, continues to maintain its place as the world’s second-largest film producer.
According to a 2021 UNESCO report, Africa's film and audio-visual industries employ a meagre 5 million people and account for just $5 billion of the continent's $3.4 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is in stark contrast to the global cultural and creative economy that generates $2.2 trillion in annual revenues and employs over 30 million people.
Some of the challenges NECLive aims to help resolve include managing African narratives, wealth-building for African creators, and training Africans and partners to ensure that the current positioning is beyond a passing fad.
The Africa Creative Foundation
The conference will now be presented annually by the Africa Creative Foundation - an invite-only membership-based organization that will be launched this 2023 summer.
According to the organisers, the plan is for everyone to be able to witness the African entertainment experience from the point of view of carefully selected professionals who have given and continue to give everything it takes to build what will shape up to be the most successful creative industry in the world.