NCBA has sponsored 10 creators to participate in the inaugural Creative Economy 101 programme, an initiative aimed at equipping Africa’s creative talent with practical business skills to build sustainable enterprises.
The sponsorship, provided through the bank’s Elev8 programme, supports the first cohort of Creative Economy 101, launched by The Burns Brothers in partnership with Strathmore University Business School.
The programme is delivered under the newly established Creative Economy Africa Institute, which seeks to strengthen Africa’s creative economy by connecting creators with business education, industry expertise and entrepreneurial networks.
Creative Economy 101 is a self-paced online programme available through Creative Economy 101. It consists of seven modules covering key areas including entrepreneurship, intellectual property, finance, business growth and the wider creative economy ecosystem.
The programme costs KSh8,500 and is certified by Strathmore University Business School.
Speaking on the initiative, Nelly Wainaina, Group Director, Marketing, Communications and Citizenship at NCBA Group, said creators should be recognised as entrepreneurs and business builders capable of contributing significantly to economic growth.“At NCBA, we believe creators are entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders whose ideas have the power to create jobs and drive economic growth,” Wainaina said.
She added that the bank’s sponsorship would give the selected creators access to skills, knowledge and networks necessary to grow their enterprises.
The partnership comes amid growing recognition of the creative sector as a potential driver of employment, innovation and economic development across Africa.
Despite the continent’s abundant creative talent, many creators continue to face challenges accessing business knowledge, financing, professional networks and tools needed to turn their skills into viable and scalable businesses.
Mike Burns, President and Founding Partner of The Burns Brothers, said Creative Economy 101 was designed to address this gap while laying the foundation for the broader vision of the Creative Economy Africa Institute.
He noted that Africa’s creativity, culture, innovation, intellectual property and human potential could become some of the continent’s most valuable economic assets in the coming decades.
Meanwhile, Dr. Caesar Mwangi, Executive Dean of Strathmore University Business School, described the creative economy as one of Africa’s major untapped economic opportunities.
He said the institute and programmes such as Creative Economy 101 would combine academic expertise with practical industry knowledge to develop creative-sector leaders and strengthen the continent’s creative ecosystem.
The programme brings together insights from entrepreneurs, creators, business leaders and industry experts, offering participants practical knowledge on how to manage and grow creative ventures.
Beyond supporting existing creators, the initiative highlights the need for education systems to adapt to emerging industries and changing workforce demands.
Industry players, educators and institutions are increasingly being called upon to equip young people with entrepreneurial skills, innovative mindsets and capabilities that can enable them to participate meaningfully in Africa’s evolving economy.
Through its sponsorship of the 10 creators, NCBA is positioning financial-sector support as a key component in expanding access to entrepreneurial education and helping transform creative talent into sustainable businesses.
