African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its CANEX Creations Inc., has signed a term sheet for an equity investment in D’Kings Men Media Ltd., the company behind the Creative Reality Entertainment Arts & Music (C.R.E.A.M) platform. C.R.E.A.M is a talent discovery and content monetisation platform founded by Nigerian musician Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo, known as D’Banj.
The agreement, signed at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2025) on 25 July 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria, signifies a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering Africa’s creative economy. Osahon Akpata, Head of CANEX Creations Inc. (CCInc), and D’Banj, CEO of D’Kings Men Media Ltd., formalised the arrangement.
Afreximbank established CANEX Creations Inc. (CCInc) to invest in and commercialise African intellectual property. This investment in D’Kings Men Media Ltd. highlights CANEX Creations Inc.’s commitment to supporting homegrown, tech-enabled solutions that bridge infrastructure gaps within the African creative sector.
However, the proposed transaction is contingent upon satisfactory completion of due diligence and final board approval.
Launched in 2016, C.R.E.A.M. aims to address the challenges African creatives face in gaining visibility and fair compensation. The platform directly facilitates talent discovery and monetisation through accessible mobile technology.
Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Osahon Akpata, Head of CANEX Creations, Inc., said that the investment reflected Afreximbank’s commitment to supporting Africa’s creative and cultural industries and was expected to strengthen C.R.E.A.M. by enabling it to expand its reach through the development of innovative new offerings for creatives.
“The creative economy holds immense promise for addressing Africa’s unemployment challenges, globally, it is valued at over US$2 trillion,” said Mr. Akpata. “It offers substantial revenue streams for small businesses and creates countless employment opportunities, especially for the youth. With Africa’s under-25 population accounting for a significant proportion of the continent’s people, we see important opportunities in the sector.”
This partnership also reflects growing investor confidence in African intellectual property and the role of cultural icons, like D’Banj, in developing scalable platforms that unlock economic value from creativity and talent.
Operating via web (www.creamplatform.com) and USSD (*463#) on MTN, C.R.E.A.M. offers aspiring creatives a low-cost entry point into the entertainment industry.
