Global brands are discovering what industry insiders already know: some of the world's most innovative creative talent is based in Lagos, Nigeria. These Lagos creatives are bold, brilliant minds and examples of what it means to think and create globally and locally.
Little wonder, this new generation of creators is catching the attention of major global players in different industries, from fashion to film and tech to design. In fact, many Fortune 500 companies are quietly building creative teams in Lagos, tapping into the city’s unique blend of culture, innovation, and raw talent.
This new development is not about cost-effectiveness anymore; it’s about originality, speed, and cultural fluency.
And Lagos offers all three, and more. As the world embraces inclusivity and authentic storytelling, brands are turning to the city’s vibrant creator economy for ideas that connect and convert on a global scale.
Top 15 Creative Talents in Lagos
1. Jessica Anekwe - Runway to Brand Ambassador
Specialty: Content Strategy and Modeling
Global Reach: 5+ years runway experience, expanding into acting
Value Proposition: Brings elegance and strategic thinking to lifestyle and fashion campaigns
Host and Content Creator,
Jessica Anekwe is a dynamic force in Lagos’s creative scene, who has learnt the art of blending style, strategy, and storytelling. With over five years of experience in runway, editorial, and commercial modeling, she’s now expanding into acting while also working behind the scenes as a content strategist and producer.
Jessica brings energy, elegance, and purpose to every project, whether she’s in front of the camera or hosting red carpets. Her passion for expression and impact will make her an excellent addition to your global campaigns from Lagos.
Her bilingual capabilities and cross-cultural understanding make her invaluable for international campaigns.
2. Sophia Nnadozie - Performance-Driven Content Creator
Specialty: Content Strategy and Influencer Marketing
Network: 5,000+ global influencers
Value Proposition: Creates content that consistently drives views, engagement, and sales
Sophia Nnadozie is a Content Strategist who creates content with sharp strategy to drive real results. Sophia prides herself as a content creation expert whose work consistently delivers views, engagement, and sales.
She’s also a key player in influencer marketing, with a curated network of 5,000+ influencers across the globe. Add in her knack for producing YouTube intros, brand presentations, and engaging unboxing content, and you’ve got a creator who understands how to tell stories that help businesses scale.
3. Jayonair (Joseph Onaolapo) - Viral Content Specialist
Following: 80K+ TikTok, 79K+ Instagram
Achievements: Force of Online Sensation (Trendupp Awards 2025), Creator Fellow (Heirs Insurance)
Value Proposition: Observational comedy that simplifies complex topics for mass audiences
Most commonly known for his skits,
Joseph Onaolapo, popularly Jay On‑Air, is a Nigerian content creator, radio and TV broadcaster, skit-maker, and event host with a flair for observational comedy that nails everyday Nigerian life. He started on radio before pivoting to viral comedic characters like Ms. Okpareke and Finished Man, amassing over 80K followers on TikTok and 79K+ on Instagram.
Recognized as Force of Online Sensation at the Trendupp Awards 2025, he’s also a creator fellow for Heirs Insurance, producing content to simplify financial literacy. Jay On‑Air’s versatility and community-first storytelling make him one of Lagos’s most compelling creators.
4. Sandra Ogbodo - Hospitality and Lifestyle Brand Specialist
Sandra Ogbodo is the creative brain behind The Content Street, one of the Lagos creative agencies helping hospitality and lifestyle brands shine online through vibrant, scroll-stopping content.
As a content creator and social media strategist, she’s mastered the art of storytelling for digital spaces. When she’s not creating UGC or teaching content creation and video editing, she’s building communities and mentoring creatives. Sandra brings both entrepreneurial grit and artistic flair that brands looking for African creatives for their business would be thankful for.
5. Damilola Abiola - Authentic Storyteller
Specialty: Purpose-driven narratives, healing and wellness content
Value Proposition: Raw, authentic storytelling that creates emotional connections
Damilola's unconventional approach to storytelling helps brands connect with audiences seeking authenticity and meaningful narratives around personal growth and transformation.
Storyteller and Writer,
Damilola Abiola is a bold voice in Nigeria’s creative space, who’s passionate using lived experience to tell stories that resonate deeply. She’s unconventional in that she brings fresh perspective to topics like healing, purpose, and post-grad life, crafting both personal and universal narratives.
Her portfolio spans work with Punch Newspaper, Lagos Traffic Radio, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which showcases her ability to create impact across industries. Damilola’s raw content earns her a place as one of the rising talents shaping meaningful conversations from Lagos to the world.
6. Omotayo Olasoji - Beauty and Lifestyle Authority
Omotayo's authentic approach to beauty content creates trust with followers, resulting in higher conversion rates for beauty and lifestyle brands compared to traditional advertising.
Omotayo Olasoji is a trusted voice in the beauty and natural haircare space, with over three years of experience creating relatable, high-impact content. Her work blends storytelling and strategy, resulting in campaigns that resonate and convert. Brands like Skin by Zaron, L’Oréal and Curlfit have worked with her to bring their products to life in the most authentic ways.
Besides sharing hair routines, she also creates lifestyle gems.
But in all, Omotayo’s content always feels personal and purposeful, which is probably what endears her to her followers as well as top beauty brands.
7. Ibquake (Ibukun Ajagbe) - Corporate Event Powerhouse
Achievement: 1st Runner-up De9jaSpirit Talent Hunt 2022, Guinness Nigeria Ambassador
Client Portfolio: Guinness Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, Johnny Walker, NBA, TVC
Value Proposition: Spoken word artistry for high-impact corporate events and campaigns
Some creators create impactful while some speak compelling words.
Ibukun Ajagbe, known as Ibquake, falls into the latter category. As one of Lagos’s most foremost spoken word artists, she mixes faith, identity, and social commentary into amazing performances.
Since rising to national fame as 1st runner-up on De9jaSpirit Talent Hunt in 2022, she has since performed for major institutions like Guinness Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, Johnny Walker, Indomie, NBA, and TVC.
As a Guinness Nigeria Ambassador, she joined prominent campaign lineups including names like Fireboy DML and Beverly Naya. A mentor and speaker, Ibquake has worked with audiences from classrooms to boardrooms. And she will always bring their spice to your brand, whether as an ambassador or an addition to your events.
8. Maureen Dede - Strategic Campaign Manager
Expertise: Data-driven campaign management, end-to-end project execution
Specialty: Brand perception strategy and audience alignment
Value Proposition: Campaigns that deliver measurable results through strategic precision
Maureen Dede is a Brand Communications Specialist and Campaign Manager known for using data-driven insights to craft campaigns that resonate and deliver results.
Maureen manages end-to-end processes with precision to talent sourcing and full project execution. Her strength, however, lies in shaping how audiences perceive brands, ensuring your message is clear, impactful, and aligned with core values.
In Africa’s buzzing creative economy, Maureen stands out as a creative to consider if you are a brand looking to connect deeply and grow strategically.
9. Winifred Liam - Multi-Platform Creative Technologist
Experience: 8+ years writing, UX design, project management, workflow automation
Tools: Figma, Google Workspace, automation platforms
Value Proposition: Scalable content systems that grow with your business
Winifred Liam is a highly versatile creator with over eight years of experience in writing, UX design, project management, and workflow automation. She uses storytelling, strategic content, and technical tools like Figma, Google Docs, and automations to elevate creative and sustainability projects.
Her work spans copywriting, SEO-rich content, and book promotion, and she’s collaborated with notable creatives and organizations across arts and psychology sectors. Winifred is your best bet if you are looking for an African creative talent to build engaging and scalable content.
10. Destiny Awata - Communications Expert
Destiny Awata is a AMAKA's own Communications Strategist whose work spans tech, finance, and storytelling. A prolific writer, she has authored thoughtful pieces for brands like AMAKA Studio.
With credentials in wealth management from the Corporate Finance Institute, Destiny also brings her financial acumen to her creative voice. Business in tech and finance industries or seeking human-centered stories will find Destiny a plus to their brand communications efforts.
11. Layi Wasabi - Global Digital Entertainment
Recognition: Meta's Creator of Tomorrow, Future Awards Africa 2024 Winner
Brand Partners: MoMo PSB, Quidax, Chicken Republic, Flutterwave, Netflix
Value Proposition: Viral content creation with global appeal and brand safety
Initially known as a viral skit-maker,
Layi Wasabi has evolved to become one of Nigeria’s top digital storytellers. Recognized as Meta’s Creator of Tomorrow, he’s widely celebrated for humor that reflects everyday life with razor-sharp wit. He’s endorsed brands like, MoMo PSB, and Quidax, and collaborated on campaigns with Chicken Republic, Flutterwave, Laughing Out Loud Naija, and more.
Layi also starred in Netflix Sports and high-profile ads for Shalipopi and Odumodublvck, proving his cross‑platform appeal. Winner of The Future Awards Africa 2024, Layi continues to shape global narratives from Lagos.
12. Chikamnenye Onubogu - Cultural Tourism & Education
Specialty: Solo travel content, African heritage documentation, educational tourism
Achievement: Award-winning "Slaves to a 9-5" piece
Value Proposition: Cultural storytelling that educates and inspires global audiences
Chikamnenye Onubogu is redefining travel through the lens of culture, history, and education. As a solo travel creator and creative director, she uses content to spotlight untold African stories and inspire educational tourism.
With a background in digital marketing for finance and fashion brands, she now works as a creative consultant, curating powerful experiences like Histoires en Motion, and documenting African heritage in dynamic ways.
Her award-winning piece, Slaves to a 9-5, captured the harsh realities of hustle culture, showcasing her gift for meaningful storytelling. Chikamnenye is proof that creativity can inform, empower, and transform.
13. Boye Oyewusi - Premium Visual Storytelling
Agency: SmilesdigitalClient Portfolio: Toyota, MTN Ayoba, Nigerian Breweries, Lagos Fashion WeekRecognition: Future Awards nomineeValue Proposition: Premium photography and visual campaigns that define styleContact:
AMAKA ProfileBoye Oyewusi, widely known as The Stylish Photographer, is a visual storyteller reshaping how brands show up in Africa and beyond. With work featured by Toyota, MTN Ayoba, and Nigerian Breweries, and coverage of major events like Lagos Fashion Week, Boye’s lens captures culture with clarity and flair.
Through his agency, Smilesdigital, he connects brands and creatives with premium campaigns and curated stock imagery. A Future Awards nominee, Boye is now branching into fashion and production. His upcoming show, Captured, is one to watch. Boye isn’t just a creator to watch out for, he is one storyteller who’s defining style.
14. Aro Maye - Growth-Focused Digital Strategist
Value Proposition: Data-driven digital strategies that accelerate business growthContact:
AMAKA ProfileAro Maye is a Digital Strategist you want on your side as a budding global brand. From driving sales for a zobo brand in just six weeks to having her work featured in Zollmt mmk Germany, she’s proven her ability to create impact across borders.
With five years of volunteering experience, she brings strong project management and collaboration skills to every campaign. Now expanding her expertise in SEO at DMSI and exploring AI through ALX Africa, Aro is focused on helping brands grow smarter and faster.
15. Chiamaka Iwenofu (Glamour Artz) - Mixed-Media Visual Artist
Portfolio: 2,000+ pieces since 2012, commissioned by A$AP Rocky for Rihanna portraitTechnique: Ankara cloth, beads, textiles, natural hair integrationValue Proposition: Culturally authentic African art that creates viral moments
Chiamaka Iwenofu, known as Glamour Artz, is a Nigerian mixed-media artist whose portraits push the boundaries of visual art. Since starting her creative journey in 2012, she’s built a portfolio of over 2,000 pieces using materials like Ankara cloth, beads, textiles, and often natural hair, to craft lifelike textures and stories rooted in African heritage.
Her international breakthrough came when A$AP Rocky commissioned a portrait of Rihanna, a shimmering mixed-media work that went viral in May 2025, earning widespread acclaim for its innovative use of real hair and fabric to capture emotion and identity.
Chiamaka’s work is more than aesthetic, it’s deeply cultural. She transforms everyday materials into vibrant narratives that invite viewers to see and feel African stories. A striking example of Lagos’s best creative talent in Lagos, Chiamaka is who to contact when you need to see Africa from an African’s perspective.
Why Global Brands Are Choosing African Creative Talent
Proven ROI and Quality Excellence
According to recent industry reports, African creative talent offers significant value:
Adaora Oramah, CEO of AMAKA Studios, explains: "A 24-year-old motion designer in Lagos can deliver a campaign for a Fortune 500 company and outperform work from their usual London agency. At 40% of the cost. This isn't about 'cheap labor'—this is about accessing the next generation of creative minds who understand global culture because they live it, breathe it, and create from it."
Cultural Authenticity That Converts
Global cultural fluency from consuming and creating international content daily
Multilingual capabilities (English, French, Portuguese, plus 2,000+ African languages)
Fresh perspectives that cut through saturated Western creative markets
Speed and agility in project execution
Digital-native expertise with mobile-first design thinking
Industry Investment & Growth Indicators
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Sony have invested significantly in Africa's creative industries, while Afreximbank launched a $1 billion African Film Fund as part of its CANEX program. By 2030, Africa is projected to produce up to 10% of global creative goods exports, valued at around $200 billion.
Key Investment Milestones:
Côte d'Ivoire partnered with venture capital to create entertainment startup fund (April 2024)
Zambia announced $100-million film industry investment plan
Idris Elba backing new film studios in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Ghana
Lagos State Government trained 1,000 creatives through Creative Lagos partnership
Conclusion
As you can see, Lagos’s creative talent ecosystem is full of individuals with talent, passion, and innovation, whether they are visual storytellers, spoken word artists, or strategists. Clearly, these individuals aren’t just making art, they’re shaping culture, amplifying African voices while making global impact.
Again, it’s no wonder global brands think creativity when they think of Lagos. This is testament to the artistry breathing life into the city.
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How to Work with These Creators?
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