On Monday, June 23rd, Chalya Shagaya, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Entrepreneurship Development, received a courtesy visit from Audu Maikori, co-founder of the influential music and entertainment company, Chocolate City Group.
What began as an informal meeting quickly evolved into a strategic brainstorming session centered on entrepreneurship, creative empowerment, and aligning with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During the meeting, Maikori shared updates on Chocolate City’s recent milestones, including a formal agreement with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, and unveiled plans to establish a Creative Hub in Jos, Plateau State—the birthplace of the iconic label.
The hub is expected to serve as a pipeline for nurturing and empowering young creative entrepreneurs, contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s creative economy and fostering innovation in music, film, and digital media.
Shagaya, who holds a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business Management, noted the ease and depth of the conversation due to her own background in the creative industries.
“We spoke the same language,” she said. “There’s real synergy, and I’m excited about what’s to come.”
The meeting reflects the growing partnership between government and private-sector creatives as Nigeria aims to harness its cultural capital to drive entrepreneurship, job creation, and global influence.
