Over the past decade, the Landmark Event Centre has become the stage for some of Nigeria’s most unforgettable milestones — from The Headies, where Afrobeats superstars have been crowned, to Lagos Startup Expo, where tech enthusiasts converge to showcase their products.
Now, the iconic Victoria Island venue is set to host another cultural moment as NECLive, West Africa’s biggest entertainment conference, makes its long-awaited return in 2025. After three years away, NECLive is coming home to Landmark for its 13th edition, a full-circle moment for the conference that has shaped conversations about Nigeria’s creative economy since 2013.
Since its debut in 2013, NECLive has grown into West Africa’s largest and most influential gathering of creative professionals. More than 500 industry experts have graced its stage as speakers and panellists, while over 100,000 people have attended in person and millions more have joined online across 50+ countries. The conference has helped facilitate more than 1,000 deals and partnerships, becoming a hub for ideas, collaboration, and policy advocacy in Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries.
The 2025 edition — the 13th in its history — will be convened under the theme “Powering Africa Through Creative Enterprise.” It will bring together musicians, filmmakers, creators, policymakers, investors, and brands to explore how Africa’s creative energy can be harnessed for sustainable economic growth.
For NECLive, returning to Landmark is more than a logistical decision — it’s symbolic. The Landmark Event Centre, which opened in 2014 as part of the sprawling Landmark Village on Victoria Island, has long been synonymous with Nigeria’s most prestigious cultural and entertainment gatherings.
With its impressive 4,200 square metres of event space, cutting-edge facilities, and a theatre-style capacity for over 2,000 people, the venue has set the stage for a decade of headline moments. It has hosted The Headies, Nigeria’s biggest music awards show, where generations of Afrobeats stars have been crowned. It has also hosted countless concerts, international exhibitions, film premieres, and corporate summits that have cemented Lagos as Africa’s creative heartbeat.
Beyond its scale and versatility, Landmark’s setting on the Atlantic coastline and its integration with Landmark Village’s restaurants, lounges, and beachfront make it more than just a hall — it’s an experience. For attendees, this means NECLive isn’t only about conversations and panels, but also about networking in vibrant spaces, mingling with industry peers by the ocean, and immersing in Lagos’ unmatched creative energy.
Nigeria’s creative industries are in the middle of a global breakout. Afrobeats stars are selling out international arenas, Nollywood continues to be the world’s second-largest film industry by volume, and digital creators are driving viral trends that shape global culture. The sector is now worth over $4.2 billion annually, contributing approximately 2.3% to Nigeria’s GDP.
Yet, with all this progress, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps, weak distribution networks, limited access to funding, and a steady outflow of talent to markets with better support systems still hold back the industry’s full potential.
This is where NECLive 2025 hopes to make a difference. “After more than a decade of facilitating crucial conversations within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, we’re witnessing an unprecedented moment where our creative talents are gaining global recognition and commercial success,” said Ayeni Adekunle, Founder and Convener of NECLive.
“However, we must now focus on building the infrastructure, appropriate policies, and business frameworks that will ensure this momentum translates into sustainable economic power for our nation.”
For the first time, NECLive will adopt a multi-venue global format in 2025, with satellite events set to be held in international locations to be announced. This expansion reflects the conference’s ambition to amplify African creative voices to a worldwide audience.
But its return to the Landmark Event Centre is a grounding moment — a reminder that while African creativity may be going global, its pulse still beats strongest at home in Lagos.
By returning to a venue that has already witnessed so many historic milestones, NECLive 2025 positions itself not just as a conference, but as the next chapter in a story of an industry rewriting Africa’s place in global entertainment
