Chude Jideonwo, Chairman of HBC Holdings, will moderate a fireside chat with award-winning Nigerian filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele at the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), taking place from November 5 to 8 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos, Nigeria. His participation reflects his longstanding work across media, storytelling and the creative industries, and his engagement with conversations shaping Africa’s cultural influence and creative economy. CANEX WKND is promoted by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and hosted by the Government of Nigeria.
Under the theme “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World,” CANEX WKND 2026 will convene policymakers, investors, business leaders and creative practitioners to explore ways to strengthen Africa’s creative and cultural industries through trade, investment, market access and sustainable growth. The event will bring together stakeholders across film, music, fashion, literature, visual arts, gastronomy, technology and other creative sectors, creating opportunities for collaboration and partnerships that can expand the global reach of African creativity. The fireside chat with Funke Akindele will offer a platform to explore her experience and creative vision, as well as the role of film and entertainment in shaping narratives about Africa and connecting African stories with audiences around the world.
As Chairman of HBC Holdings, Jideonwo brings experience spanning media, communications, storytelling and enterprise development. He is the host of #WithChude and the founder of Joy, Inc. and FourthMainland, platforms working across storytelling, media and the creative economy. His conversation with Funke Akindele will form part of the wider discussions at CANEX WKND on the role of African creatives in shaping global culture, building sustainable creative enterprises and expanding the continent’s cultural and economic influence.
For more information, visit wknd.canex.africa.