Creative education platform Learnstar has partnered with AIICO Insurance Plc to expand access to creative education, aiming to remove barriers for emerging talent across Nigeria.
The partnership was announced by Learnstar’s Chief Executive Officer, Kshitij Sainani, at the Learnstar Creative Summit 2026 held in Lagos. In his keynote address, Sainani disclosed that under the Learnstar x AIICO Skills for All Initiative, the insurance firm will fully sponsor and train 1,000 students in the creative economy through the platform.
“No barriers. No gatekeeping. This is not surface-level corporate social responsibility; this is measurable empowerment. When you educate one creative mind, you change more than one life; you change an ecosystem,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is designed to provide structured education and defined career pathways for creative talent that is widespread but often underserved.
“Talent is everywhere, while opportunity is not. Learnstar was built as infrastructure for the creative economy,” he said, adding that Africa’s creative industry is now established, investable and influential.
Sainani noted that the summit has evolved into a convergence point where corporates, investors, policymakers and creators interact in what he described as an actionable ecosystem where “culture meets capital, creativity meets structure, and ideas meet icons.”
He referenced the previous edition of the summit in Dubai, which showcased African creativity within the MENA innovation landscape and positioned the platform within global conversations at the intersection of technology, media, artificial intelligence, venture capital and culture.
Also speaking, the Director of Operations and Technology at Learnstar, Temi Toba, highlighted the economic significance of Nigeria’s creative industries, spanning music, film, sports and entertainment, while acknowledging persistent structural barriers.
“The difference between the kid on the streets of Lagos trying to make it and a kid on the streets of Hollywood is one thing, access. Access in terms of information, access in terms of finance, access in terms of opportunities. That is what we are trying to solve at Learnstar,” he said.
Toba added that Learnstar’s model focuses on delivering education “by creatives, for creatives,” connecting learners directly with industry leaders to provide practical, experience-based knowledge often missing from conventional academic platforms. Established in 2022 by Sainani and officially launched in January 2024 after about 18 months of development, Learnstar leverages celebrity-led courses and corporate partnerships to broaden creative skills training nationwide. Since its launch, the platform says it has reached thousands of emerging talents across the country.
