The United Kingdom government has launched a new funding programme targeted at strengthening Nigeria’s creative industry, with support focused on film, fashion and music businesses looking to improve local production capacity and technical capabilities.
The initiative, known as The Creative Fund, was unveiled by the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub as part of efforts to deepen digital innovation and reduce the industry’s dependence on outsourcing technical production work outside Nigeria.
The programme will support creative businesses and projects with strong potential for growth, job creation and scalability, while also promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence across Nigeria’s creative ecosystem.
The fund is tied to the UK-Nigeria Economic Transformation and Investment Partnership (ETIP) Creatives Working Group launched in March 2025. It also follows commitments made during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026.
Funded through the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme and implemented by Tech4Dev, the initiative was developed following findings from the 2024 State of the Creative Innovation Ecosystem in Nigeria report.
According to the study, Nigeria’s creative economy currently employs about 4.2 million people and contributes an estimated $3 billion annually to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the report identified major structural challenges affecting the sector, particularly limited access to financing, inadequate technical training and low access to digital production tools.
The findings showed that more than 80 per cent of creative professionals in Nigeria are self-taught, while fewer than 10 per cent have access to formal financing opportunities.
Director of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Oyinkansola Akintola-Bello, said the initiative represents a move from policy discussions to practical implementation.
“Nigeria’s creative sector already delivers real economic value, and both governments have committed under the UK-Nigeria Economic Transformation and Investment Partnership to supporting its growth,” she said.
“Through the ETIP Creatives Working Group, we are moving from ambition to action. The Creative Fund is a practical first-phase intervention that addresses critical gaps in skills, infrastructure, and access to advanced tools, enabling Nigerian creatives to produce and scale high-quality work locally.”
The grants programme will support projects requiring technical specialists such as visual effects artists, sound engineers, post-production editors and design professionals.
It will also subsidise access to digital infrastructure and production technologies including digital asset management systems, content delivery platforms, digital rights management solutions and AI-powered production tools.
Tech4Dev Country Manager for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Abraham Akpan, said the programme is designed to improve inclusion and expand opportunities for underserved groups within the industry.
“The creative industries are a core part of the digital economy, bringing together technology, culture and entrepreneurship,” he said.
“This Fund is about ensuring that Nigeria’s creative success is underpinned by sustainable local talent and capacity, while deliberately expanding access to tools, skills and finance for those who have been historically excluded.”
Akpan added that women-led businesses, youth-led ventures and underrepresented groups would receive priority consideration under the programme.
Applications for the fund are currently open on a rolling basis to creative companies, production studios, fashion enterprises, music labels and other businesses with clearly defined technical needs.
Organisers said projects will be assessed based on quality, co-investment commitment, and their potential for both local and international impact.
