Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, Founder of The Africa Soft Power Group, will deliver the keynote address at the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit scheduled for August 12, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
The announcement was made by Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, publishers of the online newspaper QEDNG, in a statement on Wednesday.
With the theme “Financing as Catalyst for a Thriving Creative Economy,” the summit will convene leaders from diverse sectors—including policymakers, investors, professionals, and emerging talents—to discuss innovative strategies for financing and sustaining Nigeria’s creative industries.
Olumide Iyanda, CEO of Mighty Media Plus and convener of the summit, said Dr. Balonwu’s vast experience across law, technology, media, finance, and development made her the ideal choice for the keynote.
“Dr. Balonwu’s advocacy for African voices in global discourse and her leadership across multiple sectors have helped drive transformation across the continent,” Iyanda said. “Her keynote will spark vital conversations and inspire practical steps to unlock the full potential of Africa’s creative economy.”
The summit aims to build stronger links between creatives and investors, explore funding solutions, and provide tools for financial sustainability in the sector.
Dr. Balonwu leads The Africa Soft Power Group, which includes The Africa Soft Power Project, ASP Global, and African Women on Board—organisations focused on using culture, media, and technology to reshape Africa’s global influence.
She was previously CEO of Spinlet, Sub-Saharan Africa’s first major music streaming platform, which exceeded two million subscribers under her leadership.
Dr. Balonwu holds a Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley; a Master’s from University College London; and a Law degree from the University of Manchester. She is qualified to practise law in Nigeria, England, and New York.
She has received multiple recognitions, including being named one of New African magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Africans in 2022 and receiving the Powerlist UK Black Excellence International Award in 2019.
From 2022 to 2023, she served as a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, focusing on private sector roles in shaping gender policy in Africa.
The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is expected to be a landmark gathering for professionals in Nigeria’s creative space. Additional speakers and panellists will be announced in the lead-up to the event.
