PodFest Naija 2025 Debuts as Nigeria’s First-Ever Podcast Festival, Uniting Creators and Brands
Nigeria’s inaugural podcast and storytelling festival, *PodFest Naija – A Festival of Stories*, made a historic debut on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event attracted over 1,500 creators, storytellers, brands, and policymakers for a dynamic day of inspiring conversations, cultural displays, and innovative collaborations.
Organized by The Muvmnt Studio in partnership with Eventful, the festival fulfilled its mission to bring Nigeria’s most influential voices together to celebrate storytelling, foster cross-industry collaboration, explore new formats, and learn from leading industry figures. The event featured live podcast recordings, interactive brand activations, six themed stages, and a major masterclass on podcast monetization, establishing Lagos as the heartbeat of Nigeria’s creative and cultural scene for the day.
In her keynote address, Honourable Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, emphasized the growing significance of podcasting in elevating Nigeria’s creative voice on the global stage.
“Podcasting has become one of the most powerful tools for projecting Nigeria’s cultural soft power and amplifying our creative narratives worldwide,” she stated. “It is a democratizing medium that transcends borders, giving everyone the chance to tell and share their stories.”
She also highlighted podcasting’s role in youth engagement and job creation:
“Our young people are not just passive consumers—they are creators, hosts, writers, sound engineers, researchers, and digital entrepreneurs. The entire value chain is within their reach. The President is committed to empowering our youth, and podcasting is a key avenue for integrating them into the economy.”
Tosin Adefeko, Curator of PodFest Naija and CEO of AT3 Resources – The Muvmnt Agency, reflected on the festival’s journey and purpose:
“When we started, our goal was simple: to tell better stories. But we soon realized that creators were working in silos, without a platform to connect. That’s when PodFest Naija was born—a festival designed to celebrate our voices, foster collaboration, and push the boundaries of how stories are told. The podcast ecosystem is here to stay, and we aim to lead the movement.”
The festival showcased over 40 storytellers and cultural icons, including Chude Jideonwo, Tunde Onakoya, Adaora Mbelu, Rufai Oseni, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, and Masoyinbo. These thought leaders led conversations spanning generations, genres, and industries. Major brands like Coca-Cola, Sterling Bank, UAC Foods, Bet9ja, and Crown Flour Mills also powered immersive activations, highlighting the synergy between storytelling, culture, and commerce.
One of the event’s most exciting moments was the unveiling of “The Next Big Podcaster,” a project by The Muvmnt Studio aimed at discovering emerging talent poised to shape Nigeria’s podcasting future. Pearllie Hart was announced as the winner, spotlighted as an up-and-coming voice to watch.
As Nigeria continues to establish itself in the global creative landscape, PodFest Naija stands as a rallying point for creators, policymakers, and brands to celebrate innovation, forge collaborations, and craft narratives that transcend borders.