NECLive, a West African annual conference of creative industry professionals has introduced a new multi-venue and global format as it celebrates 10th anniversary.
Ayeni Adekunle, Founder of NECLive, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
NECLive brings together music artistes, comedians, Nollywood artistes and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry such as producers, marketers, creative arts and media professionals for a full day of conversations, workshops, exhibitions and master classes.
Adekunle said after 10 years in a single city, the conference would now hold simultaneously in other parts of Nigeria and in key cities across Africa, Europe, and America.
According to him, these changes are a matter of necessity, given where the industry is today; and in line with the new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.
โWhen we conceived the idea for an annual conference 10 years ago, it was out of frustration.
โFrustration about lack of education, about piracy, about lack of platforms, access and opportunities for entertainment practitioners to monetise their talent at scale.
โToday, most of those problems have largely been solved but we are now faced with even bigger problems and opportunities.
โI believe that itโs time to begin the work of making sure Africaโs creators and everyone else in the value chain; as well as our societies and economies, get the maximum possible value from our contribution and growing participation in the global entertainment marketplace,โ he said.
According to Adekunle, from 2024, the new NECLive will hold over the course of a month, from April to May every year.
He explained that it would begin with a flagship event in Lagos, and run through cities like Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Ibadan.
He said the event would also run through London and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom; Atlanta and New York in U.S., as well as other key African cities like Nairobi, Accra and Johannesburg, among others.
He said that NECLive was founded in 2013 and had provided a sustained platform for conversations and interventions for an industry that has fought against all odds to survive and thrive.
He said the annual conference had hosted 11 events that have seen over 100,000 participants, reaching an audience of over 100 million in more than 30 countries with over 40 broadcast hours.
According to him, NECLive has generated over 100 partners, sponsors and brokered more than 700 deals.
Adekunle said NECLive would henceforth present a global showcase of the African entertainment experience.
He said this would be for the benefit of platforms, labels, investors, brands, businesses, talents, governments, and other stakeholders.
โThe industry, even the whole world has changed a lot since we kicked off NECLive in 2013.
โHaving realised that most of the frustrations that led us to found NECLive have since been solved, I believe it is now time to face newer, bigger battles.
โWe wanted some standardisation around distribution, now we have it. We wanted access to bigger markets and opportunities to monetise and itโs already happening.
โWe wanted honour, recognition and acknowledgement. It is happening; It is still early days but it is already happening. But what does it mean? Where is it headed? How do we benefit individually and collectively sustainably? What happens next?
โWe are spending the next 10 years of NECLive answering these questions and more.
โAnd to do that well, we have to overhaul the entire format. So, starting April 24, 2024, we will decentralise the platform, hosting shows and workshops and exhibitions and more all over the world,โ he said.
Adekunle noted that the flagship events in Lagos and other Nigerian cities will be retained.
โBut no matter where you are in the world, the plan is for you to be able to witness the African entertainment experience.
โThis is from the point of view of carefully selected professionals who have given and continue to give everything it takes to build what I am convinced will shape up to be the most successful creative industry in the world.
โNECLive will now be presented annually by Africa Creative Foundation, an invite-only membership-based organisation to be launched this summer. (NAN)