Nkiru Balonwu to Deliver Keynote at QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit

Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, founder of The Africa Soft Power Group, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the upcoming QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit, scheduled for August 12, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The announcement was made in a statement on Wednesday by Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, publishers of the online newspaper QEDNG.

Themed “Financing as Catalyst for a Thriving Creative Economy,” the summit will convene key stakeholders across sectors to explore strategies for scaling Nigeria’s creative industries. Attendees will include policymakers, investors, industry professionals, and emerging talents.

Explaining the choice of keynote speaker, Olumide Iyanda, CEO of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited and Convener of the summit, described Dr. Balonwu as an exemplary figure whose career aligns with the summit’s objectives.

“Dr. Balonwu’s work in amplifying African voices in global discourse, alongside her expertise in law, technology, finance, entertainment, and international development, continues to drive meaningful change across the continent,” Iyanda said.

“As a visionary advocate for Africa’s creative potential, her insights will deeply resonate with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. Her keynote will spark critical dialogue on opportunities within Africa’s creative economy and inspire actionable steps to unlock its full potential.”

Iyanda added that the summit would explore funding models, foster partnerships between creatives and investors, and offer financial literacy tools to strengthen sustainability in the sector. The event is also expected to serve as a platform for long-term collaboration.

Dr. Balonwu leads The Africa Soft Power Group, which comprises three organizations—The Africa Soft Power Project, ASP Global, and African Women on Board—dedicated to reshaping Africa’s global influence through culture, media, and technology.

A former CEO of Spinlet, Sub-Saharan Africa’s pioneering music streaming platform, Dr. Balonwu led the company to surpass two million subscribers during her tenure.

She holds a Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley; a Master’s degree from University College London; and a Law degree from the University of Manchester. She is called to the bar in Nigeria, England, and New York.

Among her accolades, she was listed among New African magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Africans in 2022 and received the 2019 Powerlist UK Black Excellence International Award for her work with African Women on Board.

From 2022 to 2023, she served as a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, where her research focused on the role of the private sector in shaping gender policy in Africa.

The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit is expected to be a landmark gathering for professionals in Nigeria’s creative sector. Additional speakers and panellists will be announced in the coming weeks.