The founder of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mike Dada, has joined the Advisory Board of African Collaborations Group (ACG) to support the development of sport and entertainment districts across Africa.

The platform, which focuses on the industrialisation of Africa’s sports industry, announced Mr Dada’s appointment in a statement on Thursday.

It said his experience in the African creative industry would strengthen its effort to develop sports and entertainment projects across the continent. 

Mr Dada founded AFRIMA in 2014 in partnership with the African Union Commission to promote African music globally. The awards platform is broadcast in over 84 countries.

He is also the Vice President of the African Union’s Pan-African Congress, where he led the development of the AU Plan of Action on Culture and Creative Industries, adopted by African leaders in 2023.

Speaking on Mr Dada’s appointment, ACG founder and Executive Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, said Mr Dada’s experience in cultural development and continental policy would be valuable to the organisation

“Mike Dada brings to our Advisory Board a rare combination of continental cultural infrastructure leadership and Heads of State-level policy positioning,” he said.

ACG further stated that its Advisory Board provides strategic guidance for developing large-scale sports and entertainment districts by bringing together governments, investors, financial institutions and infrastructure partners.

The organisation noted that Africa’s sports economy was projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, noting, however, that the continent still lacked the integrated facilities needed to support large-scale development.

It said its projects would go beyond individual sports venues to establish mixed-use districts designed to generate revenue and support sustainable development.