Author
  • Associate

The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy has launched the Creative Economy Development Fund (“CEDF”) to support Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries. The Fund offers loans, equity, and grants to eligible individuals, businesses, and institutions in the creative space.

The CEDF is designed to help creative projects grow and thrive, whether in film, music, fashion, gaming, publishing, visual arts, cultural tourism, or other creative sectors. It also supports projects that can show strong growth potential and those that use intellectual property (IP) as part of their business model.

Application Phases

The Fund is being rolled out in two phases:

  • Phase One (Now Open – Closes May 30, 2025): For large projects requiring over $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). If selected, review and onboarding will take place between June and December 2025. Funds will be disbursed starting January 1, 2026.
  • Phase Two (Opens August 4, 2025): For Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which require less than $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). Disbursement starts April 1, 2026.

Who Can Apply?

The Fund is open to a broad range of stakeholders within the creative and cultural ecosystem, including:

  • Film & TV: Writers, directors, studios, post-production teams, cinema operators
  • Music & Fashion: Artists, record labels, producers, designers, tailors, marketers
  • Gaming & Animation: Game developers, animation studios, voice actors, content platforms
  • Visual Arts & Publishing: Galleries, sculptors, online platforms, editors, publishers
  • Cultural Heritage & Tourism: Museums, curators, cultural site managers, local guides, tour operators
  • Support Services: Legal consultants, logistics providers, training institutions, promoters

Applicants may be individuals, businesses, cooperatives, or organisations active in Nigeria’s creative economy or supporting sectors.

How to Apply

  1. Go to the CEDF portal – https://cedfnigeria.com/
  2. Click on “Apply for CEDF Now”
  3. Fill out the form and upload your documents (e.g., project/business overview, financial plan (budget/revenue projections), legal/ownership details, and proof of IP ownership (if applicable).
  4. Submit your application and track your status through the portal.

All submissions will be evaluated by an independent fund management team and investment professionals, with oversight from a private-sector-led investment committee.

___________________________________________________________________

At Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe, we remain committed to supporting creatives, investors, and institutions as they navigate the expanding opportunities within Nigeria’s creative economy.

Get more publications like this straight to your inbox.

Our perspectives on investment locally and globally, business opportunities in a challenging environment, delivered to your inbox monthly.