For participants in Creator HQ 2026, the message remained clear: Create. Protect. Scale. This message rang through the three-day programme reinforceing the importance of creating targeted platforms that respond to the changing realities of the digital creative economy, while giving young women the confidence, knowledge and resources required to participate fully in its growth.

The three-day immersive programme designed to equip female digital creators with the knowledge, skills, tools and industry connections required to build more structured, protected and commercially sustainable creative careers was facilitated by Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA).

Held from September 28 to 30, 2026, at Landmark Centre, Creator HQ brought together approximately 150 female digital creators for three days of intensive learning, practical workshops, industry conversations, networking and hands-on creator experiences.

Developed around the three core pillars of Create, Protect and Scale, the programme addressed some of the most important areas shaping the careers of today’s digital creators, including content creation and storytelling, personal branding, intellectual property and digital protection, monetisation, global income opportunities, brand partnerships, audience development and the business of being a creator.

Creator HQ forms part of TAFTA’s broader commitment to strengthening Africa’s creative economy by ensuring that emerging creatives are equipped not only with artistic and technical skills, but also with the business knowledge and structures required to turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods.

The programme was delivered with the support of the Mastercard Foundation and other supporting partners, whose contributions helped expand the learning experience and provide participants with practical opportunities and resources throughout the three-day programme.

Beyond classroom-style learning, Creator HQ was intentionally designed as a practical and interactive experience. Participants engaged in workshops, group exercises, creator challenges, question-and-answer sessions and networking opportunities with experienced professionals from across the creative, legal, business and digital industries.

A key highlight of the programme was the opportunity for participants to put their learning into practice through creator challenges and hands-on activities. Outstanding participants were also rewarded with content creation tools and creator kits, providing them with practical resources to support the next stage of their creative journeys.

The distribution of these tools reflected one of the core objectives of Creator HQ, ensuring that participants left the programme not only with knowledge and inspiration, but also with tangible resources that could support them in applying what they had learned.

Extending that commitment beyond the three-day programme, the 150 creators who participated in Creator HQ will also receive press passes to the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), giving them an opportunity to experience, document and engage with one of Lagos’ major cultural gatherings.

The Lagos International Theatre Festival will hold from November 14 and 15, 2026, at MUSON Centre, Lagos, bringing together theatre, culture and creative expression while providing another platform for emerging creators to engage with the wider creative ecosystem.

Speaking on the significance of the programme, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder of Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA), said: “Creators today have extraordinary opportunities to build audiences, businesses and careers through digital platforms, but talent and visibility alone are not enough. They also need to understand how to protect their work, create sustainable income and build structures around what they do. Creator HQ was designed to bring those elements together and give these young women practical knowledge, access and tools that can help them take greater ownership of their creative careers.”

She added that supporting women within the creative economy remains an important part of ensuring that more young Africans are able to participate meaningfully in the opportunities emerging across the sector.

“There is tremendous talent across Africa, particularly among young women who are already creating, influencing culture and building communities online. Our responsibility is to help ensure that they also have the knowledge, confidence and opportunities required to turn that creativity into something sustainable.”

Academy Lead at TAFTA, Joseph Umoibom, described the programme as an important step towards closing the gap between creativity and the business knowledge required to build lasting careers.

“One of the things we wanted participants to understand through Creator HQ is that being a creator goes far beyond posting content. There is a business behind creativity. There are questions around intellectual property, monetisation, audience development, partnerships, contracts and long-term sustainability that every serious creator needs to understand.”

He continued: “Over the three days, we saw participants ask questions, test ideas, collaborate and begin to think differently about their work. Giving some of them practical creator tools was also important because we wanted the impact of the programme to continue beyond the venue. The goal is for them to leave Creator HQ better prepared to create, protect the value of what they produce and scale their careers.”