UK’s Woodhall Finance House activates Creative Currency Podcast with N1.5bn

*Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner, explains The Creative Currency Podcast initiative is designed to create real opportunities, build lasting partnerships, transform Nigeria’s Creative Economy via finance, culture, and diplomacy while empowering the next generation of African talent to thrive on the global stage

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a landmark collaboration to advance Nigeria’s creative economy, Woodhall Finance House, in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom (UK) Government, Polaris Bank, and the Lagos State Government (LASG), has launched The Creative Currency Podcast in Lagos.

The Creative Currency Podcast is an initiative designed to serve as both a media platform and economic catalyst for Nigeria’s creative economy.

Hosted by Mr. Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner, at his Lagos residence, the launch of the initiative attracted senior policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, high net worth individuals, and leading creatives from across Africa.

The British Government said by weaving together capital flows, policy frameworks, and compelling narratives, the initiative “seeks to unlock sustainable growth within Africa’s most vibrant export ecosystem.”

Positioned at the nexus of finance, culture, and diplomacy, The Creative Currency Podcast aims to drive investment, strengthen cross-border partnerships, and reinforce the UK-Nigeria creative network as a catalyst for economic transformation.

Onyinye Madu of the British High Commission Communications (BHC) Office, Abuja, FCT, in a statement Friday, July 11, 2025, disclosed Mr. Baxter emphasised the UK’s commitment to creative collaboration.

The statement quoted the envoy to have said: “The UK is proud to support Nigeria’s creative economy through long-term partnerships that combine innovation, investment, and cultural exchange.

“Through the Creative Industries Technical Working Group – a direct outcome of the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) – and platforms such as The Creative Currency Podcast, we are deepening our commitment to creative collaboration.”

The British Deputy High Commissioner also stated: “This is about creating real opportunities, building lasting partnerships, and empowering the next generation of African talent to thrive on the global stage.”

Speaking at the event also, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, represented by Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, delivered a keynote address that underscored Lagos’s position as Africa’s creative capital.

A panel on financing Africa’s creative economy featured Mrs. Abimbola Ozomah, Executive Director, Polaris Bank, Sola Carrena, MD/CEO Helios Investment Partners, and Mrs. Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, President of Woodhall Capital.

The statement further noted the discussion emphasised the need for innovative financial instruments, including blended finance, factoring, and creative bonds, to unlock the sector’s economic potential.

As a bold commitment to Nigeria’s creative industry, Woodhall Finance House announced a N1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund aimed at supporting export-ready creative enterprises and growth-oriented SMEs across fashion, film, music, beauty, and digital arts.

The British Government stressed the milestone was accompanied by a fireside chat exploring “UK-Nigeria Cultural Synergies to Drive Global Innovation and Transformation.”

It featured Veekee James Atere, Creative Director Veekee James and Shoperikan, Shaffy Bello, Nigerian Film Actress and Singer and Mark Smithson, Country Director, UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), who shared valuable insights on how cross-cultural collaboration can unlock new creative possibilities.

Commenting on the sector fund, Mrs. Hunponu-Wusu, Founder and President of Woodhall Capital, stated: “Creativity is no longer an abstract asset; it is a bankable commodity, and must be treated as such by policymakers, investors, and financiers.

“Nobody can tell the Nigerian story like we Nigerians, and nobody is coming to save us.”

She stated: “If we want to see real change, we must build our own table, design our own systems, and finance our own narratives.

“Our N1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund is our commitment to doing just that: backing bold ideas, scaling creative businesses, and turning cultural capital into economic power.”

The evening culminated in a cultural exchange under the UK’s Jollof and Tea campaign, a symbolic fusion of Nigerian and British identities through cuisine, conversation, storytelling, and high-level networking, noted the statement.

Guests connected over shared heritage and future ambitions, engaging in dynamic discussions around identity, investment, and the evolving global narrative of African creativity.

The Creative Currency Podcast is redefining the future of Africa’s creative economy, serving as a diplomatic instrument, transaction hub, and catalyst for structural reform, the BHC Communications Office said in the statement.

It added that a global demand for African creativity continues to rise, platforms like this are essential for transforming visibility into viability and turning culture into capital.

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