NACC to honour Austen-Peters tomorrow

The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) will tomorrow confer the Excellence in Cultural Innovation and Global Creative Industry Trailblazer Award on Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAF) in recognition of her exceptional visionary leadership in inspiring Nigerian creativity, promoting Africa’s cultural influence, transforming the continent’s creative landscape, and globalising African stories through groundbreaking innovations in theatre, film, cultural showcase, and creative enterprise.

Previous recipients of the Creative Economy Award include Mo Abudu, Richard Mofe Damijo and Femi Odugbemi.

In a statement, NACC’s Deputy President, Ehi Braimah, said the award would be presented during the Chamber’s April International Roundtable, themed, “Policy and governance reforms in Nigeria’s immigration and border management sector,” at 10:00 am at the Legend Hotel, Lagos Airport (Curio Collection by Hilton).

Austen-Peters is a lawyer, award-winning film and theatre producer, director, and cultural entrepreneur whose work has redefined Africa’s creative sector.

> She founded Terra Kulture in 2003, which has evolved into Nigeria’s premier arts and culture hub, featuring a restaurant, art gallery, bookstore, language school, film production studio, and four state of the art theatres.

> The institution has hosted over 300 art exhibitions, 200 stage productions, and 100 book readings, while providing a vital platform for thousands of creative industry practitioners and theatre professionals.

> CNN has described her as “the woman pioneering theatre in Nigeria,” and Forbes Afrique has repeatedly named her among the Most Influential Women in Africa.

> Through her production company, BAP Productions, Austen-Peters has brought authentic Nigerian stories to international audiences with acclaimed films including ‘93 Days’, ‘The Bling Lagosians’, ‘Man of God’, ‘Collision Course’, ‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’, and ‘House of Ga’a’. The latter ranked in Netflix’s global top 10 and reached number one in 12 countries.

> ‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ has been screened at prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Westminster University. In 2025, she released ‘Wire Wire’, continuing her focus on contemporary Nigerian narratives.

> Her stage productions ‘Waaka the Musical’, ‘Saro the Musical’, ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens’, and ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’ have toured globally to cities including London, Egypt, South Africa, and Dubai, showcasing the vibrancy of African theatre worldwide.

> Austen-Peters’ dedication to talent development is evident in the establishment of the Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA), in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation.

> The academy offers free training in film, theatre, and entrepreneurship, aiming to educate 65,000 youths over five years.

> To date, more than 50,000 youths have enrolled, with over 21,000 integrated into the workforce, significantly strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy.

> She has spoken at high-level platforms, including the Financial Times Africa Summit, London School of Economics, and NYU Stern School of Business, advocating Africa’s creative industries as engines of growth and cultural renewal.

> A prestigious fellow at MIT, she holds an LL.M in International Law from the London School of Economics, a B.L from the Nigerian Law School, and an LL.B from the University of Lagos.

> Her numerous accolades include recognition as a Fellow of Theatre Arts in 2024 and multiple wins at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

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>  National President, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce,  Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, will host the event, welcoming key dignitaries including the special guest of honour, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, who will also be delivering the keynote.

> Others are the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap; the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Dr. Ola Awakan and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae.

> The roundtable will feature panelists such as the Director-General Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Smatt Oyerinde; President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Dr. Badaki Aliyu; Managing Consultant, Zigona Advisory and Thematic Lead Tourism and Hospitality Industries Thematic Group NESG, Ngozi Ngoka, and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi.

> The session will be moderated by Pamilerin Akabunwa, Deputy Managing Partner, Moroom Africa and Deputy Registrar, Nigerian Immigration Lawyers Association.

> This award and roundtable, sponsored by Legend Hotel, Lagos Airport, Curio Collection by Hilton, reinforces the Chamber’s commitment to celebrating excellence that strengthens Nigeria’s cultural and economic influence while addressing critical governance and policy issues, Braimah added.