The UK-Nigeria Technology Hub has launched its Creative Fund aimed at boosting local production in Nigeria’s film, fashion, and music industries.
The fund, a first phase grants initiative, is designed to address critical technical capacity gaps and support the development of local digital production capacity, encourage the adoption of modern creative technologies, and promote the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to strengthen Nigeria’s creative value chain.
It is funded by the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, under the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme and implemented by Tech4Dev.
The Director of the UK Nigeria Tech Hub, Oyinkansola Bello, said Nigeria’s creative sector already delivers real economic value, and both governments have committed under the UK Nigeria Economic Transformation and Investment Partnership to support its growth.
‘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,’ she said.
She added that the Fund will support high-potential creative projects covering three industries; Film, Fashion, Music and will focus on initiatives that demonstrate strong potential for impact, scalability, and job creation.
‘It will subsidise projects that need to close technical gaps including critical specialists like VFX artists, sound engineers, post-production editors, and design professionals, or the digital tools and resources that make professional-quality work possible locally, for example digital asset management systems, content delivery tools, Digital Rights Management solutions, and AI-driven production technologies.
‘The aim is straightforward; Nigeria’s best creative work should be made in Nigeria,’ she said.
Abraham Akpan, Tech4Dev’s Country Manager for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa said the Creative industries are a core part of the digital economy, bringing together technology, culture and entrepreneurship.
‘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. By prioritising women-led enterprises, youth-led ventures, and underrepresented groups, the fund embeds inclusion into every stage of delivery,’ he said.