The UK Nigeria Technology Hub has launched a Creative Fund to support Nigeria’s film, fashion, and music industries, with applications now open to eligible businesses and creators.
The initiative, announced by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, aims to address technical capacity gaps by funding projects that strengthen local production and encourage the use of advanced digital tools, including artificial intelligence.
The fund targets creative companies, studios, production houses, fashion brands, and music labels with clear technical needs, helping them access the skills, tools, and infrastructure required to scale their work within Nigeria.
According to the organisers, the programme aligns with commitments under the UK-Nigeria Economic Transformation and Investment Partnership and builds on agreements reached during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
Oyinkansola Akintola Bello, Director of the Tech Hub, described the fund as a practical step toward strengthening the sector.
“The Creative Fund addresses critical gaps in skills, infrastructure, and access to advanced tools, enabling Nigerian creatives to produce and scale high-quality work locally,” she said.
The programme is funded under the UK government’s Digital Access Programme and implemented by Tech4Dev.
Tech4Dev’s country manager, Abraham Akpan, said the initiative will expand access to opportunities across the creative ecosystem, particularly for underserved groups.
The launch responds to findings that Nigeria’s creative sector, despite employing about 4.2 million people and contributing roughly $3 billion annually to GDP, faces significant structural challenges.
These include limited access to financing, reliance on self-taught skills, and the outsourcing of high-value technical work abroad.
By supporting access to digital production tools, content delivery systems, and rights management technologies, the fund is expected to strengthen local capacity and boost the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s digital economy.
