Headliners announced for NECLive 2026

Guinness world record holders, chart topping actors and producers, innovators, executives and celebrities join spectacular cast of participants for 11th annual edition 

Tee A returns as host of the 11th Nigerian Entertainment Conference, with its flagship event on Thursday, 12 November at Alliance Française de Lagos

NECLive, the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, today announced the first confirmed lineup for its 11th edition. The lineup brings together award-winning actors, filmmakers, music executives, entrepreneurs and award-winning DJs. The three-day annual conference takes place in November with a flagship event on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at Alliance Française de Lagos, Ikoyi. This year’s show is presented under the theme “Home Advantage: Transforming Local Demand into Global Power.”

Comedian and compere Tee A returns as host, extending his record as NECLive’s resident host and committee member. He will be joined by multiple co-hosts, moderators and interviewers, all to be confirmed later. For the first time, we now unveil the confirmed participants for 2026.

Film and television

• Genoveva Umeh, actress; AMVCA winner for Breath of Life (2024), star of Netflix’s Blood Sisters, and a 2026 AMVCA Best Lead Actress nominee for The Herd
• Editi Effiong, founder and CEO of Anakle Films; writer and director of The Black Book, the first Nigerian-made film to reach Netflix’s global top three
• Kayode Kasum, director of Ajosepo, Afamefuna: An Nwa Boi Story and Soole; producer of the 2026 Yoruba fantasy Alahun: The Weaver
• Efa Iwara, actor and rapper; three-time AMVCA nominee whose credits include King of Boys: The Return of the King and Òlòtūré: The Journey
• Dika Ofoma, filmmaker and culture journalist whose shorts premiered internationally at IFFR in 2025 and 2026
• Jennifer Ukoh, PR Manager at MultiChoice, a Canal+ Company

The business of music

• Godwin Tom, inaugural Managing Director of Sony Music Publishing Nigeria and founder of the Creative Business Academy
• Foza Fawehinmi, entertainment lawyer and President of Digital Music Commerce and Exchange; co-founder of Greenlight Music Publishing
• Bizzle Osikoya, co-founder and managing partner of The Plug, whose roster has spanned Davido, CKay, Tobi Amusan and Asisat Oshoala
• Excel Joab, Senior Manager, A&R and Artist Development for West Africa at AWAL
• Femisoro Ajayi, talent manager to Falz and consultant to Bahd Guys Entertainment since 2012

Sound and culture

• DJ Obi, holder of the record for the longest DJ set (240 hours) and founder of the Obi’s House party series
• Greatman Takit, gospel singer and songwriter whose 2026 album Flames of a Wildfire features Nathaniel Bassey
• Dr. Foy, medical doctor and head of Energize Music, which partnered with Sony Music’s The Orchard in 2024
• Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, co-founder, TNC Africa, and host, The Fashion Roundtable
• Tobi Mohammed, Managing Partner, The Plug

Business and leadership

• Njideka Akabogu, Regional Manager at ID Africa
• Iretomiwa Akintunde-Johnson, Regional Manager at BHM
• Oluwaseye Oladejo, CEO, Sheye Oladejo
• Joseph Enesu, Head, AI Labs and Systems Intelligence Architect, Plaqad Inc.

“Nigeria’s creative industries already have the audience. The work now is turning that demand into lasting value at home and abroad. Everyone in this first lineup has done that in their own field, from the AMVCAs to Netflix, Sony and a Monday night in Lagos,” said Ayeni Adekunle, Convener of NECLive.

NECLive is presented by ID Africa and Netng in partnership with Plaqad, the African artificial intelligence and business solutions company, The Macallan, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, BHM and Huce Valeris.

The 2026 edition follows the release of The State of Nigeria’s Creative Economy 2026, a research report produced with Frontyard that draws on 377 creative professionals across eight sectors. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

About NECLive

NECLive, the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, describes itself as the marketplace of ideas, products and services for the African entertainment industry. The conference has hosted more than 500 industry experts, drawn over 500,000 participants and facilitated more than a thousand deals and partnerships. NECLive 2026 is organised by ID Africa. More at nec.ng.

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