Fegho John Umunubo, former Special Assistant on Digital & Creative Economy in the Office of the Vice President, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
He noted that he was grateful for the chance to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s creative industry and strengthen collaboration between government and the private sector to unlock more funding and market access for creatives.
During his tenure, Umunubo focused on initiatives to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s creative and digital economy. One of the notable initiatives was convening over 600 creatives at the State House for a historic dialogue with the Vice President. This event brought together creatives from across Nigeria to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the industry.
Umunubo also partnered with Providus Bank to establish a ₦5 billion Creative Fund, creating access to financing for the industry. The first phase of the fund enabled producers and actors to secure loan facilities to produce movies for streaming platforms and cinemas. Additionally, he facilitated over ₦500 million in grants and sponsorships for the sector, supporting movie premieres, free cinema ticket giveaways, comedy and music concerts, accelerator training programs, and grassroots business initiatives across different states in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Umunubo sourced resources from partners to fund the trip of the Brazilian Delegation to Lagos during the visit of the Brazilian Vice President to Nigeria. This provided the Brazilian business delegation an opportunity to experience the rich culture of Lagos State and engage directly with stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative industry.
Umunubo chose not to receive a salary, bonus, or travel budget from the Federal Government during his tenure. Instead, he relied on the support of private-sector partners and organizations to fund the initiatives he executed. He extended special thanks to organizations that supported these efforts, including Providus Bank, Wema Bank, Prembly, Leadway Group, Gluwa Capitals, Budpay, Lanre Shittu Motors, and Alpha Geek Technologies Nig Ltd.
Umunubo reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital and creative economy, stating his readiness to continue supporting the sector in ways that will benefit the nation. “It has been my honour to serve this great country and the creative industry,” he said. With his experience and expertise, Umunubo is poised to continue making a positive impact on Nigeria’s creative industry.
