Photo: World Intellectual Property Organization / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
African diaspora capital will not reach its full potential without trustworthy institutions, accessible investment routes and stronger protection for creative ownership, experts said in Lagos.
From interest to investment
The call came during a session titled Beyond Borders: The Diaspora’s Role in Shaping Africa’s Future at Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 on Saturday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
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Timi Adeyeba, co-founder and chief operating officer of Amplify Africa, said many Africans abroad want to invest, form partnerships or return to build businesses, but are often unsure how to do so safely and effectively.
He said cultural connection should come before commercial engagement. Diaspora professionals, he argued, need reliable information on local markets, business structures and viable opportunities, while companies and public institutions must communicate more clearly about how they operate.
Adeyeba pointed to diaspora interest in the Dangote Refinery initial public offering as an illustration of the demand for credible opportunities. But he said interest cannot become investment without dependable financial platforms and operational systems.
Ownership is an economic question
The discussion also focused on who controls and benefits from Africa’s growing cultural influence.
Jemilah Alghali, senior manager for brand marketing at BET Media Group, urged African creatives to build clearer cultural identities and stronger standards around their work. She said this was necessary to stop others from defining, owning or profiting disproportionately from African cultural products.
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Adeyeba added that African-owned distribution platforms could help creators retain a greater share of the value generated by their intellectual property. Dependence on overseas platforms and restrictive licensing arrangements, he said, can limit creators’ long-term earnings.
Temi Butler, vice-president and deputy creative director at HarbourView Equity Partners, encouraged artists to think about ownership from the start of their careers. Retaining rights can give creatives more choice over licensing, selling a stake in a catalogue or using assets to fund future work, she said.
Why this matters for the diaspora
For Black communities abroad, the debate is about more than remittances. It is about having credible ways to contribute capital, expertise, networks and market access without being exposed to opaque processes or weak accountability.
The African Union has similarly identified trust and institutional gaps as major obstacles to diaspora investment. Its proposed African-Diaspora Investment Corridor is intended to link investors with verified projects and establish common expectations around due diligence, transparency, investor protection and dispute resolution.
Nigeria is also pursuing practical tools aimed at reducing uncertainty. NiDCOM Connect, a government-backed platform, says it verifies members through the National Diaspora Registry and lists investment, trade, business and professional opportunities.
The Lagos speakers said deeper collaboration will require direct engagement between diaspora professionals and communities on the continent. They highlighted potential across music, film, sport, short-form content and digital media, but stressed that global reach must be matched by local knowledge, accountable institutions and African ownership.
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For Africa’s creative economy, that combination could turn diaspora pride and interest into durable businesses, better-paid creators and investment that stays connected to communities.