iDICE's Ife Adebayo to keynote QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit 2.0 - ITREALMS

Mr. Ife Adebayo, the National Coordinator of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme at the Bank of Industry (BOI), has been named the keynote speaker for the upcoming QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit 2.0. The event is slated for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

The announcement was officially made on Wednesday by Mighty Media Plus Network Ltd, the parent organization of the online publication QEDNG. This year’s summit, themed "Creativity, Culture and Nigeria's Next Chapter," seeks to explore how strategic collaborations between the government, the investor class, and the creative community can catalyze national growth, drive job creation, and foster sustainable economic development.

Mr. Ife Adebayo is a seasoned technology and innovation expert with over 16 years of international experience spanning Nigeria, Germany, and the United Kingdom. His career is marked by high-level contributions across both public and private sectors, as well as critical partnerships with global development institutions, including the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Islamic Development Bank.

Currently, Mr. Adebayo spearheads the African Development Bank (AfDB)-supported iDICE programme at the Bank of Industry, where he coordinates the implementation of the $617 million initiative. The programme is a cornerstone of Nigeria's digital strategy, aimed at strengthening the technology and creative ecosystems through targeted enterprise development, improved access to finance for startups, and the creation of an enabling regulatory environment.

Prior to his current role, he served as the Special Assistant on Innovation to the Vice President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. During this tenure, he played a vital role in advising the Federal Government on innovation policy and strategy, directly contributing to initiatives that bolstered the nation's digital technology and creative frameworks.

Mr. Adebayo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ilorin and a Master’s degree in Business Information Systems from the University of East London.

Commenting on the selection, the Publisher of QEDNG, Mr. Olumide Iyanda, noted that Mr. Adebayo’s professional trajectory perfectly embodies the cross-sectoral collaboration that the summit aims to inspire.

"This year's summit is about shaping Nigeria's next chapter through creativity and culture. That conversation cannot happen without addressing innovation, investment and the policies that help creative businesses grow. Ife Adebayo brings practical experience from working at the centre of those conversations, and we are delighted to have him deliver the keynote address," Mr. Iyanda stated.

Mr. Adebayo follows in the footsteps of Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, founder of The Africa Soft Power Group, who served as the inaugural keynote speaker at the 2025 edition of the summit, which focused on financing as the primary catalyst for the growth of Nigeria's creative economy.

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor