Digital creator Hauwa Lawal delivered one of the most resonant messages at NECLive 2025 when she explained that storytelling sits at the heart of Africa’s cultural influence. Speaking during the panel session on Powering Africa Through Creative Enterprise, she noted that Nigerian creators are increasingly shaping global narratives by sharing lived experiences in authentic ways.
Hauwa said the creative economy can only be exported when Africans take ownership of their stories. She described how her own work is rooted in a community that feels seen when she creates content about identity, daily life, and social realities. According to her, many Nigerians still face strange questions and assumptions outside the country because the world is often exposed only to limited portrayals of African life. She said this makes it even more important for creators to tell fuller and more human stories.
She added that digital communities now give creators the chance to reach global audiences without traditional gatekeepers. For Hauwa, this shift proves that the world runs on stories and that African creators can thrive by embracing their own voices.
