National coordinator of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme at the Bank of Industry (BOI), Ife Adebayo, will deliver the keynote address at the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit 2.0 on Tuesday, August 11, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The announcement was made by Mighty Media Plus Network LTD, the parent company of online newspaper QEDNG, on Wednesday.

Themed Creativity, Culture and Nigeria’s Next Chapter,” the summit will examine how stronger partnerships among government, investors and the creative community can unlock opportunities for growth, job creation and sustainable development.

A technology and innovation professional, Mr Adebayo has spent more than 16 years working across Germany, the United Kingdom and Nigeria, leading programmes that support innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise development. His experience spans the public and private sectors as well as partnerships with international development institutions.

He currently leads the African Development Bank-supported iDICE programme at the Bank of Industry, coordinating the day-to-day implementation of the $617 million initiative. The programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s technology and creative ecosystem through skills and enterprise development, access to finance for startups and an enabling environment for businesses.

Before taking up the role, Adebayo served as special assistant on innovation to the Nigerian vice president from 2015 to 2023. In that position, he advised the Federal Government on innovation policy and strategy for Nigeria’s digital technology and creative ecosystem, while contributing to initiatives that promoted technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

His work has also involved major projects supported by the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency and Islamic Development Bank.

Adebayo earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Ilorin and a master’s degree in business information systems from the University of East London.

QEDNG publisher, Olumide Iyanda, said Adebayo’s work reflects the kind of collaboration between government, finance and creative enterprise that the summit seeks to encourage.

“This year’s summit is about shaping Nigeria’s next chapter through creativity and culture. That conversation cannot happen without addressing innovation, investment and the policies that help creative businesses grow. Ife Adebayo brings practical experience from working at the centre of those conversations, and we are delighted to have him deliver the keynote address,” Mr Iyanda said.

Adebayo takes over from Dr Nkiru Balonwu, founder of The Africa Soft Power Group, who delivered the keynote address at the inaugural QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit in 2025. That maiden edition attracted leading voices from business, government and the creative industries and focused on financing as a catalyst for the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy.

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