Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has described the state’s notorious traffic as an unexpected catalyst for the growth of its creative industry, saying commuters have turned long journeys into opportunities to consume podcasts, music and films.
Hamzat made the remarks on Friday at PODFEST Naija, where he noted that content creators were benefiting from the time Lagos residents spend on congested roads, particularly along routes such as Ojota to Obalende and the Third Mainland Bridge.
A video of his remarks at the event was shared by News Central on Saturday.
According to the deputy governor, traffic has become part of the lifestyle of Lagos and has inadvertently created a captive audience for the creative sector.
He said Lagos was also increasingly taking control of its own narrative through the work of podcasters, filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs.
Hamzat said the creative industry could only thrive in an environment where people felt safe, stressing that security and liberty were essential to creativity.
He added that the state was supporting innovation through funding and backing research and development projects across sectors including health, education, mobility, film, technology, climate and culture.
Hamzat said the era when innovators had ideas without access to funding was ending, but urged creators to ensure their work generated sustainable income.
He warned that large audiences did not automatically translate into successful businesses, stressing the need for creators to develop viable business models.
The deputy governor urged creators to build businesses rather than rely solely on personal brands, protect and register their intellectual property, and tell Lagos stories with excellence and integrity.
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