Apply: UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Creative Fund for Film, Fashion, Music

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, in partnership with Tech4Dev, has opened applications for the Creative Fund, a new initiative designed to support Nigeria’s growing creative economy with flexible, project-based grants.

Funded under the Digital Access Programme, the initiative targets high-potential projects in film, fashion, and music, with a focus on strengthening local production capacity and reducing reliance on foreign technical services.

About the Creative Fund

The programme is a direct response to findings from a 2024 study on Nigeria’s creative ecosystem, which revealed that while the sector employs over 4.2 million people and contributes about $3 billion annually to GDP, access to funding and technical expertise remains limited.

The Creative Fund aims to address these gaps by:

• Supporting local talent and technical production
• Providing access to digital tools and infrastructure
• Encouraging high-quality creative output within Nigeria

Key Focus Sectors

The fund focuses on three major industries where Nigeria already has global influence:

• Film: post-production, editing, animation, sound design
• Fashion: digital design, production engineering, sustainable sourcing
• Music: sound engineering, mastering, production and distribution

What the Fund Covers

The funding is flexible and tailored to each project’s needs. It can support:

• Specialist talent such as editors, VFX artists, sound engineers
• Equipment, software licences and production tools
• Workshops, exhibitions and knowledge-sharing events
• Give-back initiatives led by project participants

Co-Investment Requirement

Applicants are required to contribute in-kind support, which may include:

• Meals and transportation during production
• Health coverage (HMO)
• Studio or workspace access
• Equipment and software provision
• Mentorship and training support

This model ensures commitment, accountability and sustainability.

Funding Structure

The programme operates across three tiers:

• Core Project Grants: for early-stage or smaller productions
• Growth Project Grants: for established projects with proven capacity
• Collaborative Grants: for partnerships across multiple organisations

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be based in Nigeria and operate within film, fashion or music
• Have a clear technical production gap
• Be a registered creative business or organisation
• Attach 2 to 5 mid-career professionals to the project
• Commit to at least one give-back activity
• Be ready to start within the programme timeline
• Agree to reporting and compliance requirements

Mid-Career Placement Requirement

Each funded project must include:

• 2 to 5 mid-career creatives with at least 2 years’ experience
• Structured mentorship and hands-on training
• Submission of CVs and profiles to Tech4Dev

Give-Back Component

A mandatory part of the programme requires participants to contribute to the ecosystem through:

• Hosting workshops or masterclasses
• Offering pro bono services to startups
• Organising community training sessions
• Publishing learning materials or case studies

Application Process

Interested applicants are required to:

• Download and complete the application form
• Provide details of their project and technical needs
• Submit a budget and implementation plan
• Participate in a virtual review if shortlisted

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Timeline

• Opening Date: April 22, 2026
• Deadline: July 30, 2026

Early applications are strongly encouraged.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants can submit their proposals via the official portal:
https://thecreativefund.ncegii.org/.