BOP2024 celebrates success and sets new industry standards

Maria Nna

The Business of Photography Conference 2024 (BOP2024), a conference aimed at championing the creative industry in Nigeria with a focus on the photography and videography industry and increasing its recognition as a formidable business sector in Nigeria and Africa, recently with concluded with a resounding success in Lagos.

The conference, which was in its fifth edition, attracted industry leaders, policymakers, creatives and aspiring photographers and videographers, presenting insightful discussions, thought-provoking panels and networking opportunities, cementing its reputation as a premier event in the calendar of the creative industry was strengthened.

Mr. Kola Oshalusi, the organizer of the BOP conference, set the tone with his opening address, in which he emphasized the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s cultural wealth for economic prosperity. He said: “The creative industries in Nigeria have the potential to employ anyone who is not employed if only explored and that is the basis of this conference.”

Throughout the day, attendees were treated to a wide range of perspectives and expertise, starting with Bola Yinka Obebe’s insightful speech on Speak Ede, followed by the engaging keynote address by Obi Asika, Director General of the National Council for the Arts and Culture, about the transformative power of art and culture. He said: “Photography is a crucial part of communications and everything we do. If you look at the growth of social media over the past decade,

you’ll see that platforms like Instagram and Facebook are massively driven by photography and visual direction. In Nigeria, we are working on more platforms to provide photographers with better opportunities”

The conference consisted of engaging panel sessions, exploring crucial themes relevant to the creative economy. The first session, moderated by Yagazie Eguare, featured industry luminaries such as Tolagbe Martins, Mary Edoro and Jokotade Shonowo, while topics ranged from exporting Brand Nigeria to strengthening gender diversity and embracing cultural appreciation.