The U.S. Consulate in Lagos, led by its Public Affairs Officer, Julie McKay, has hosted a strategic working lunch with Enugu-based creatives, aimed at unlocking the state’s creative economy as a powerful driver of youth employment and sustainable economic growth.
The engagement brought together key players in content creation, fashion and the broader creative ecosystem to examine practical pathways for transforming creativity into enterprise, jobs and long-term economic value for young people in Enugu State.
Speaking at the session, McKay emphasised the growing global relevance of the creative industry and its potential to deliver scalable opportunities for youths when properly supported.
“The creative economy—whether through content creation, fashion or digital innovation—has proven to be a strong engine for job creation and inclusive growth. When talent is matched with structure, skills and access to markets, creativity becomes a sustainable livelihood,” she said.
Discussions at the working lunch focused on strengthening collaboration between the Enugu State Government and the creative community, particularly in building synergies that can expand opportunities for youths supported through the Enugu SME Center (Enugu MSME & Startup Agency). Participants explored how targeted skills development, production infrastructure and access to markets could help creatives scale their work into viable businesses.
Fashion emerged as a major focal point of the engagement, with participants highlighting the job-creation potential of initiatives such as the Enugu Fashion and Garment Hub. The hub was identified as a strategic platform for nurturing local designers, expanding garment manufacturing and positioning Enugu as a competitive centre for creative production.
“Fashion and garment production have the capacity to create jobs at scale—from design to manufacturing and distribution. With the right investments and partnerships, Enugu can become a recognised hub for creative production in Nigeria and beyond,” McKay noted.
The engagement was also aligned with the vision of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to position the creative economy as a key pillar of Enugu State’s inclusive growth agenda.
According to McKay, the discussions reinforced a shared commitment to collaboration, capacity building and partnerships that move creativity beyond expression into enterprise.
“What we see here in Enugu is talent, energy and vision. Our collective task is to help translate that creativity into businesses, jobs and lasting economic value for young people,” she added.
Participants described the meeting as a timely intervention that strengthens confidence in the creative sector and signals growing international interest in Enugu’s emerging creative economy.
