Olusegun Adeyemi

PRESS STATEMENT NIPSS Reschedules National Summit and Exhibition on Orange Economy The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in collaboration with Bruit Costaud Government Affairs Et Al Limited, wishes to announce the rescheduling of the National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy. Originally slated for October 6-8, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly the National Theatre), Lagos, the Summit will now take place from December 8-10, 2026, at the Admiralty Event Centre (Naval Dockyard), Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, the organizers said the event was rescheduled to allow additional time to strengthen the event programme, broaden stakeholder participation and maximize the Summit's overall impact and deliverables. The National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy brings together policymakers, investors, creative and cultural industry leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, development partners and key stakeholders. Together, participants will explore the immense potential of Nigeria’s Orange Economy to drive economic diversification, job creation, innovation, investment and sustainable development. “We sincerely appreciate the enthusiasm and support demonstrated by our partners, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, media organizations and registered participants. “While we regret any inconvenience caused by the change in timing and location, we look forward to the continued support and active participation of all stakeholders. “We look forward to welcoming all participants, partners and stakeholders to the Admiralty Event Centre, Lagos, from December 8-10, 2026, for a robust national conversation and a compelling showcase of Nigeria’s vibrant Orange Economy,” the organizers said.

Nigeria’s former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed (left), with American actor/producer Will Smith in Luanda, Angola, during the just-concluded Formula E1 Championship.

L-R: Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s former Minister of Information and Culture; NBA superstar LeBron James and Marcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Angolan Minister of Tourism at the Luanda Slave Museum on Saturday, on the sidelines of Formula E1 Championship taking place in Luanda, Angola, Sept 12-13, 2026

L-R: Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, and Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation.

L-R: Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, Minister of information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi and DG of National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, when he led a NIPSS delegation to the Hon Minister today on the forthcoming National Summit and Exhibition on Orange Economy slated for National Theatre, Lagos, Oct. 6-8, 2026.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE NATIONAL SUMMIT AND EXHIBITION ON THE ORANGE ECONOMY GOES LIVE The Organizing Committee of the National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy, convened under the auspices of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), is pleased to announce that the official website for the Summit, orangeeconomysummitandexhibi…, is now live. The Summit, scheduled to hold from 6 to 8 October 2026 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly the National Theatre), Lagos, will bring together policymakers, creative and cultural entrepreneurs, investors, development partners and other key stakeholders to examine the opportunities, challenges and policy direction for Nigeria's Orange Economy. Prospective delegates, exhibitors, partners and members of the public are encouraged to visit the website to register for the Summit and to stay up to date with programme details, speaker announcements and other developments ahead of the event.

From left: Head of Advancement and Alumni Relations, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Dr Eve Ikuenobe-Otaigbe; former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; National President, Alumni Association of the National Institue (AANI), Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor and Secretary General, AANI, Dr Khalifa Umar Mohammed, when the Organising Committee of the forthcoming National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy visited AANI office in Abuja Thursday

“But this should be a project the entire NIPSS family can be proud of, and no one is better placed to drive that than the alumni,” he said. The National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy is being organised by NIPSS in collaboration with Bruit Costaud. Members of the Association at the meeting included, Major General Umar Mohammed (rtd) mni; the Abuja Chapter Chairman, Rear Admiral FO Isaac (rtd) mni; the Secretary General, Dr. Khalifa Mohammed mni; Director of Administration, Mr. Ladan Nasiru Mohammed mni; and Dr. Gado Shehu mni.

*NIPSS Alumni Association President Pledges Support for Orange Economy Summit* The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, has pledged the full support of the Association for the forthcoming National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) in collaboration with Bruit Costaud. Ambassador Okafor gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday when he received the Organising Committee of the Summit, led by former Minister of Information and Culture and Managing Partner of Bruit Costaud, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the Alumni Secretariat in Abuja. He assured the delegation that the Association would leverage its extensive network of members across the public and private sectors to mobilise the necessary support for the successful hosting of the Summit. “The Summit on the Orange Economy is a very key and strategic summit because the Orange Economy, or what we call the Creative Economy, is a concept that people have forgotten, but you find out that we are so endowed with creative talents,” he said. Ambassador Okafor said Nigeria’s creative economy has enormous potential to surpass the oil industry in economic value and national impact if properly harnessed. He said that with the right policies, investments, infrastructure and human-capital development, the creative economy could become one of Nigeria’s most powerful engines of economic growth. “Our music industry is the best. Of course, in the last World Cup, Burna Boy was also playing alongside Shakira. Then you talk about Nollywood. You find out that Nigeria’s Nollywood is second to Hollywood. We have overtaken Bollywood of India. “We have a lot, but we have never harnessed it. Talk about football talent. Talk about the drama. We have a Nobel Prize Winner, Professor Wole Soyinka. We have so many wonderful dramatists, but what have we done? We are all concentrated on oil to the detriment of the other sectors,” the AANI President said. He noted that the Association’s membership cuts across the crème of society, including three former Heads of State, first-class traditional rulers, military top brass, six former Inspectors General of Police, security chiefs, diplomats, serving and former governors, top civil servants and labour leaders, among others. Ambassador Okafor said, given the enormous potential of the creative industry, President Bola Tinubu had mandated Set 48 of NIPSS to undertake research on the Orange Economy, with a view to identifying global best practices for effectively harnessing the sector’s potential for national development. “I can tell you that in NIPSS, we have research projects on every problem of Nigeria. Currently, we are talking about the Orange Economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, this Orange or Creative Economy contributes about only 5.2% to the GDP, but the government is planning that by 2031, it will contribute 10% to our GDP,” he said. He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to take the implementation of research findings from the Institute seriously by translating them into concrete policies and actionable measures to address identified areas of national interest. Earlier, Alhaji Lai Mohammed solicited the support and collaboration of the Association towards the successful hosting of the Summit, which is scheduled to hold from October 6 to 8, 2026, at the National Theatre in Lagos. He said the Summit was being organised as part of NIPSS’ contribution to President Tinubu’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to US$1 trillion by 2030 by leveraging the potential of the Orange Economy. “The Summit is organised by your alma mater, NIPSS, and will hold from October 6 to 8, 2026, at the National Theatre in Lagos, as part of NIPSS’ contribution to Mr. President’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to US$1 trillion by 2030. My company, Bruit Costaud, is facilitating.