Deadline: 01-Sep-2025
The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy (FMACTCE) has launched the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), a groundbreaking initiative approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). This fund aims to accelerate growth, foster innovation, and provide sustainable financing for Nigeria’s creative and cultural sectors, reflecting the government’s efforts to promote job creation, diversify the economy, and enhance the country’s global cultural influence.
CEDF represents a major investment in Nigeria’s creative economy, acknowledging its potential to drive economic development and strengthen cultural diplomacy. It seeks to provide capital for businesses in areas like film, music, fashion, art, publishing, gaming, and cultural tourism, enabling them to scale production and access wider markets.
The fund also aims to make financing more accessible to creative entrepreneurs, particularly those who have been excluded from traditional bank loans or investment opportunities. By helping these businesses grow, CEDF is expected to create jobs—especially for young people—and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification beyond oil.
One of the fund’s transformative features is its focus on intellectual property (IP). It introduces a model where creators can leverage their IP—such as film rights, music, or digital works—as collateral for financing. This groundbreaking step will unlock the hidden value of Nigeria’s vibrant creative assets.
CEDF will be delivered through multiple financing windows designed to meet the diverse needs of the sector. The Debt Financing Window will offer loans and credit to creative enterprises with the capacity to repay, supporting them in scaling up or completing key projects. The Equity/Quasi-Equity Window will provide investment capital through equity stakes or convertible instruments, enabling high-potential creative ventures to grow sustainably with long-term backing.
Additionally, the Grant Funding Window will support innovative but unbankable projects with strong cultural impact. These grants will be managed to ensure a continuous income stream that can support community arts, heritage preservation, and experimental content development.
In its second phase, the CEDF will prioritize funding for MSMEs and SMEs with projects under $100,000. Eligible applicants include individual creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses in Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries. It also welcomes tourism-related enterprises that align with cultural or creative value chains. Applicants must have a viable project plan, legal rights to any relevant IP, and a clear alignment with the Fund’s goal of strengthening the creative sector.
For more information, visit FMACTCE.
