Creative Lagos 2.0 Graduates Shine In Ikorodu with World-Class Creative Skills

Lagos, Nigeria — August 24th, 2025

Creative Lagos 2.0 reached its grand finale in Ikorodu, where the Del-York Creative Academy (DCA), in partnership with the Lagos State Government, graduated a new wave of creative professionals on Sunday, August 24, 2025. The ceremony marked the culmination of three months of rigorous training, celebrating resilience, innovation, and the rise of Lagosians equipped with globally competitive skills.

At the heart of the initiative is Del-York Creative Academy, Africa’s leading institution for training in film, media, animation, fashion, and digital content. With more than a decade of sculpting thousands of global-standard talents, DCA has become synonymous with excellence, ambition, and a catalyst for the continent’s creative renaissance.  Creative Lagos 2.0 reaffirmed this mission, extending opportunities to youths across Lagos and nurturing talent from the grassroots.

Promise Jones, Project Manager at DCA, described the graduation as the fulfillment of a vision that began three months earlier. “Today, our graduates leave not only with certificates but with the power to redefine industries and tell Africa’s story in bold new ways. This is only the beginning,” she said.

The initiative was made possible through the support of the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, with crucial backing from corporate partners including Flour Mills of Nigeria, and the Ikorodu Local Government.

Graduate testimonies underscored the program’s impact. Kunle, class representative for Animation and Post-Production, entered with limited knowledge but emerged as a confident animator. Habib, from Content Creation, emphasised that the training gave him tools to monetize his creativity, calling it “an investment that could never be a regret.” Temitope Oresegun, a student of Makeup and Costume Design, said her passion was refined into a professional craft. At the same time, Faith Faninola, from Acting, Film, and Television, noted how the training reshaped his art and even enabled him to complete two AI-assisted scripts. Ndubuisi Godwin, despite challenges, declared the program life-changing.

The evening was both a celebration and a showcase of talent. Graduates presented stage plays, short films, makeup and costume exhibitions, fashion showcases, and music performances that captured the breadth of their training. A special documentary chronicling the students’ journey from their first day to their polished graduation works left the audience inspired. 

In a historic moment, the Youth Constituency of Ikorodu Division, representing the six local governments under the IBILE (Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe) zone, presented the Champion of Creativity and  Excellence in Youth Empowerment Award to Del-York Creative Academy.  The award presented by Comr.Babatunde Adeleje Akadri aka Sayleke, recognized DCA’s outstanding role in equipping young people with creative skills across Ikorodu. Accepting on behalf of Del-York, Jones dedicated the honour to DCA Founder, Mr. Linus Idahosa, describing it as “a touching reminder that what started as a dream has become a movement.”

Delivering goodwill remarks on behalf of the Executive Secretary/CEO, Mrs. Adebukola A. Agbaminoja, of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board (LSFVCB), Mr. Dosunmu Jamiu, Public Affairs Officer, congratulated the graduates, describing them as “tomorrow’s trailblazers”. He lauded the initiative: “Three months ago, we gathered here at the beginning. Today, we gather to celebrate triumph. The Lagos State Government stands firm with Del-York Creative Academy, committed to fostering innovation and advancing our economy through the creative industry,” he said.

The conferral of certificates underscored a singular message: Creative Lagos is more than a program; it is a transformative movement. Equipped with skills, courage, and clarity of purpose, the graduates now stand ready to contribute their quota to the global creative industry ecosystem.