UNILAG, ICRW & Mastercard Foundation collaborate to Tackle Gender-Based Inequities in African Creative Industry

University of Lagos (UNILAG) researchers have joined hands with International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) and the Mastercard Foundation to tackle gender-based inequities in the African creative industry through a research project titled: Behind the Scenes: Young Women and Gender-Based Inequities in Africa’s Creative Sector

The research team for the project consists of Dr. Michael Kunnuji (Principal Investigator), Dr. Florence Nweke (Principal Investigator), Lisa Morgan (Youth Researcher), Esther Omoyele (Youth Researcher and a Creative Arts graduate of UNILAG) and Folajumi Sefiu (Youth Researcher and 300-level student of the Department of Sociology, UNILAG).

At a project inception meeting held at Radisson Hotel, Lagos on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, the researchers converged, both physically and virtually, with relevant stakeholders including personalities from Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture; MasterCard Foundation, International Centre for Research on Women, Nollywood, Actors Guild of Nigeria among others.

The meeting was targeted at:

• introducing the project to key stakeholders;
• developing a shared understanding of the project’s goal & objectives among national team members, the country advisory group, and other stakeholders;
• gathering stakeholders’ feedback on the goals, research questions & activities and on national creative industries for research prioritization;
• generating ideas on policy engagement opportunities and moments for the project as well as
• Deciding on strategies for updating stakeholders on project progress.

While giving an overview of the research project, one of the Principal Investigators (PI), Dr. Florence Nweke of the Department of Creative Arts, UNILAG, revealed that the project is aimed at responding to the growing calls for deeper insights and rigorous evidence to enable effective strategies that address gender disparities in the African creative sector.

Dr. Nweke highlighted the objectives of the project, characteristics of the creative sector of the seven (7) countries which would be captured in the project; methodology which would be used such as document reviews, focus group discussions, and storytelling; the key stakeholders and key deliverables.

Dr. Michael Kunnuji of the Department of Sociology, UNILAG extensively clarified the roles of the Country Advisory Group (CAG) and Project Advisory Group (PAG); highlighting their terms of reference, mode of operation and the support needed from the group. The PAG consists of members of Guilds, ministries, policy advocates etcetera. He also chaired a breakout session which reviewed the various research questions.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Touri Adekoja, ably represented by the Director, Creative Arts Department of the Ministry, Mrs. Bisi Omojare, in her brief speech, assured the researchers of State’s support towards the project.

The meeting also featured a goodwill message from the Country Programs Research Lead, Mastercard Foundation, Dr. Amanda Coffie; a question & answer session; music performances from Lisa Morgan and some UNILAG students; a brief presentation on the way forward by youth researcher, Folajumi Sefiu and closing remarks from the Director, Global Health, Youth and Development, ICRW, Dr. Chimaraoke Izugbara.

The Behind the Scenes project, which will run for three years (2024-2026), is expected to actively engage, foster collaboration, & forge bonds which will drive and reshape the creative landscape of Nigeria. It ultimately seeks to end the marginalization of young female creatives in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Nigeria and Uganda.

 

Source: UNILAG