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More than 3,000 creators, podcasters, entrepreneurs, brands, policymakers and other stakeholders converged on Lagos at the weekend as PodFest Naija 2026 spotlighted the growing economic and cultural influence of Nigeria’s storytelling industry.
The second edition of the festival, held on Friday, September 25, at Harbour Point, Lagos, brought together over 50 storytellers and industry voices for conversations around creativity, culture, money, health, relationships, business and the future of the creator economy.
The festival, organised by The Muvmnt Studio, the storytelling platform of AT3, The Muvmnt Agency, in partnership with Eventful Nigeria, also provided a platform for emerging creators to learn about monetisation, build networks and explore opportunities within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
A major highlight of the event was the keynote address by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who described the creative sector as an increasingly important part of Lagos’ economic and cultural identity.
Hamzat said technology had changed the way Nigerian stories were created, distributed and consumed globally, arguing that content produced by Nigerian creators could increasingly be viewed as a form of cultural and economic export.
“Lagos is now telling its own story. The podcasters, the filmmakers, the musicians, the writers, the designers, the developers and the entrepreneurs in this room have turned a Lagos microphone into a global broadcast,” he said.
He added that when content produced by a Nigerian creator in Lagos was consumed in cities such as Houston, London or Nairobi, it represented more than entertainment.
“That is export. That is soft power. That is the Lagos economy speaking to the world in its own voice,” Hamzat said.
The event also featured the Citizen Stage, which gave ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to bring their experiences and concerns into discussions involving prominent creators and industry leaders.
For the Convener of PodFest Naija and Chief Executive Officer of AT3 Resources, The Muvmnt Agency, Tosin Adefeko, the festival was created to address the growing gap between the people behind digital platforms and the audiences consuming their stories.
Adefeko said the festival was designed as a convergence point for creators, brands, policymakers, industry leaders and everyday Nigerians.
“We needed a convergence. A place where creators, storytellers, brands, policymakers, industry leaders and, most importantly, everyday people could come together and talk about the one thing we all have in common: our lived experiences,” he said.
One of the biggest attractions was The Uncovered Series, which featured a candid conversation between Adefeko and award-winning actress, filmmaker and producer, Funke Akindele.
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The session explored the less visible aspects of Akindele’s career, including sacrifice, resilience, creativity, reinvention and the experiences behind her public success.
The festival also turned attention to the next generation of Nigerian podcasters with the launch of The Next Big Podcaster, an initiative designed to identify, develop and promote emerging voices.
Sponsored by Afrinvest and Yolly, the competition ended with Clement Akintade emerging as the winner, following a showcase of new-generation storytelling talent.
According to the organisers, the initiative is part of a broader effort to create a pipeline through which young Nigerians can transform creativity and storytelling into sustainable careers.
PodFest Naija 2026 further recognised established contributors to Nigeria’s creative ecosystem through the PodFest Hall of Fame.
The festival featured personalities including Joro Olomofin, Toolz Oniru-Demuren, Ify Mogekwu, Dr Morenike Molehin, Francesca Uriri, Anthony Wolve, Grace Ofure, Tosin Olaseinde, Rufai Oseni, Fisayo Soyombo, Babajide Ogunsanwo, Joseph Edgar, Khadijah Okunnu, Dr Foy and Masoyinbo.
Beyond panel discussions, the festival featured live podcast recordings, creator conversations, monetisation masterclasses and practical sessions aimed at helping creators understand the business side of content creation.
The organisers said the programming was deliberately designed to move the conversation beyond content creation to the opportunities, businesses and careers that can emerge from storytelling.
The festival attracted support from brands and organisations including The Place, Yolly, Meta, MTN, DNIL, Afrinvest, Page International Finance Company, Lebara, Sahara Foundation, UAC, Coca-Cola, Crown Flour Mills, Beloxxi, Fan Milk and Eve Essentials.
Dashboard Innovations and Clover also participated as strategic partners.
Adefeko said the long-term vision of PodFest Naija was bigger than podcasting, stressing that the platform was created to provide Nigerians with a space to tell their stories and connect across different generations, industries and communities.
“Everybody has a story. Tell your own,” he said.
With the growing number of Nigerians creating and consuming digital content, the organisers said PodFest Naija would continue to build a platform for storytelling, creativity, collaboration, innovation and learning while providing opportunities for Nigerian voices to reach audiences beyond the country.
