Media educator and UR4Africa Project founder, Olubusola Ajayi, has said Nigeria’s creative industries have strong potential to drive youth empowerment, economic growth, and social transformation if they receive adequate support.
Speaking at Trade FM’s Business Breakfast Briefing, Ajayi explained that the creative sector goes beyond music and film to include fashion, gaming, content creation, culinary arts, and digital innovation. She noted that young people need opportunities to develop creativity, critical thinking, and practical business skills through mentorship, internships, and arts education. According to her, challenges such as poor funding, weak infrastructure, and limited professional guidance continue to hinder many young creatives from reaching their full potential.
Ajayi highlighted that the UR4Africa Public Art Africa programme was created to help young people use creativity to solve real-world problems while building entrepreneurial and communication skills. She said the initiative encourages participants to develop solutions for their communities through art, technology, and innovation, with projects exploring themes such as African futurism and artificial intelligence. She also stressed that art can play a powerful role in social change by inspiring hope, strengthening communities, and giving young people a platform to express their ideas.
The UR4Africa co-founder called on government agencies, private sector actors, and financial institutions to increase consistent investment in young creatives through funding, mentorship, and internship opportunities. She added that the organisation plans to establish a creative hub where young people can collaborate, innovate, and develop projects that address societal challenges while promoting positive social values through media and storytelling.
Ajayi further urged Nigerian parents to support their children’s creative talents, noting that creativity can complement traditional careers such as medicine, law, and banking while also creating sustainable economic opportunities. She concluded by inviting the public to UR4Africa’s fundraising exhibition at Art Lab Gallery, Ikeja GRA, scheduled for June 12–14, 2026, describing it as a platform to celebrate emerging artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators while supporting youth development across Nigeria.
