The Convener of the Ibadan Creator Summit, Dr Shola Adeyemi, has said the summit is designed to empower young creatives and contribute to the economic development of Ibadan.
Adeyemi stated this on Friday during a press briefing ahead of the summit scheduled to hold on September 5 at Harvest House, Ibadan.
He disclosed that more than 3,000 participants are expected at the event, which is free to attend.
Some of the speakers include Olivia Umeh, Seyi Adisa, Shete, Babatunmise, Ayo Adams, Ajoke Lasisi among others.
According to him, Ibadan has continued to produce talented young people in various creative fields, including photography, content creation, journalism and videography, but many of them leave the city in search of better opportunities.
He attributed the migration of talents to the lack of structures and platforms that connect creators with brands and provide them with opportunities to monetise their skills.
“This city has been raising talent, young people who are talented, photographers, content creators, journalists and videographers. But the moment they get very good at their craft, they start looking for other places where they feel the grass is greener, and they go to places like Abuja or Lagos,” he said.
Adeyemi described the situation as an “export race,” where Ibadan develops creative talents while other cities benefit from their skills.
He said the summit was established to create a platform where creators and brands could connect, negotiate and do business within Ibadan.
“We need to build that table where a brand and the creator can sit across each other and do business properly. This is exactly what the summit exists for,” he said.
The convener noted that some creators in Ibadan with thousands of followers could earn as little as N50,000 for a sponsored post, whereas they could command significantly higher fees in Lagos and other major cities.
He said the disparity was not due to a lack of talent but largely because of limited information and access to opportunities.
“It is not talent. I think it is information and access,” Adeyemi said.
He explained that this year’s summit would focus on three key areas: building, monetising and skilling creators.
According to him, the programme would go beyond teaching participants how to create viral content to equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to turn their creativity into sustainable sources of income.
“We have too many creators who are chasing virality when they have not built anything viable. We also want to teach them how to monetise. Your passion is not going to pay your rent. If you are doing this full-time, it has to feed you, and it can definitely feed you,” he said.
Adeyemi also stressed the importance of showcasing successful creatives from Ibadan and creating opportunities for young talents to learn from established practitioners.
He expressed optimism that participants would leave the summit with a new perspective on their creative careers and the opportunities available to them within the city.
Adeyemi said the ultimate goal was to strengthen Ibadan’s creative economy and enable talented young people to build successful careers without necessarily relocating to Lagos, Abuja or other cities.
Also speaking, Kenny Ogunmiloro of Blast FM said the initiative was not about competing with other states but about creating opportunities for people in Ibadan to realise their potential.
“What we are trying to achieve is that you get your value. Whoever remains here, we need to respect them,” Ogunmiloro said.