The third annual +234 Art Fair will be held from Thursday to Sunday at the Ecobank Pan-African Center on Victoria Island, with organizers focusing on inclusivity and expanding opportunities for emerging Nigerian artists.
The art fair is an initiative of Ecobank Nigeria and Soto Gallery, with African Finance Corporation as a key partner. This platform is dedicated to supporting young, unreleased and emerging artists across Nigeria.
According to the organizers, the 2026 theme “Inclusion: Expanding the Framework” aims to increase the visibility of underrepresented voices while expanding their representation within the arts ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of the event, Ecobank Nigeria’s Head of Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Omoboye Odu, who represented Ecobank Nigeria’s Managing Director, Mr. Bolaji Lawal, said the exhibition reflected growing creativity and corporate connectivity.
Odu pointed out that inclusivity in the creative industries means opening doors for young artists, improving access to markets and fostering stronger dialogue between art and business.
“When most people hear ‘+234’, they think of a phone number. But this week, Nigeria is calling the world and the world is answering,” she said, adding that the platform shows that Nigeria’s creative economy is vibrant, scalable and exportable.
Thora Akerele, founder of Soto Gallery and curator of the fair, described the initiative as a movement aimed at amplifying the voices of Nigerians and connecting artists with broader markets in Africa and beyond.
Akerele said the curatorial team spent 33 days traveling to 17 states in Nigeria, identifying and engaging artists from underserved communities and ensuring broad participation beyond traditional art spaces.
The fair has continued to grow since its inception. In its first two editions in 2024 and 2025, the event attracted more than 18,000 visitors and featured more than 1,100 works of art. Participating artists also increased from 200 in 2024 to 260 in 2025, and the event trended as a top topic on X in both editions.
African Finance Corporation President and CEO Samaira Zubair said Africa Finance Corporation’s continued partnership highlights the economic potential of Africa’s creative industries.
“As we enter our third year of support for the +234 Art Fair, we remain committed to championing a platform that unlocks the commercial and cultural value of Africa’s creative industries,” he said.
The free-admission exhibition features works in a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, and children’s art. The program will also include masterclasses, panel discussions connecting finance and art, live art installations, and networking sessions.
Ecobank Nigeria says the fair is part of its broader engagement with Nigeria’s creative sector through platforms such as Adire Lagos, Oja Oge and Lagos Pop-up Museum.
