Apply : Federal Government 2025 Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF)

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, has officially launched the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF)—a landmark initiative aimed at catalyzing growth in the nation’s vibrant creative sector.

Designed to provide comprehensive financial support, the CEDF is open to individuals, startups, established enterprises, and institutions engaged in various segments of the creative and cultural industries. This strategic move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to diversify the economy, promote job creation, and elevate Nigeria’s cultural footprint on the global stage.

The unveiling of the fund was presided over by Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who, in a statement issued by her media adviser, Dr. Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, described the initiative as a transformative national investment. According to the Minister, the CEDF is poised to unlock the immense untapped potential of Nigeria’s creative landscape, positioning it as a major contributor to national income and soft power diplomacy.

“This fund goes beyond financial aid. It is a clarion call for creative professionals, innovators, and enablers to pursue ambitious projects that will strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global creative economy,” Musawa said.

The CEDF offers flexible funding options—including debt financing, equity investments, and grants—to support innovation, scale production, boost exports, and enhance the international visibility of Nigerian cultural assets and tourism-related ventures.

Through this fund, creatives will gain access to capital that enables them to grow their businesses, widen market reach, and utilize their intellectual property as collateral. Assets such as music catalogs, film distribution rights, digital art, and other creative IPs can now be monetized to attract investment.

Key components of the fund include:

• Affordable loans and credit lines for sectors such as film, music, fashion, publishing, gaming, and cultural tourism.
• Equity and quasi-equity funding targeted at high-growth creative businesses.
• Grants for cultural projects that are socially impactful and promote innovation.
• Support for IP-based financing, allowing creatives to use intangible assets as investment instruments.

The application process will be conducted in two phases:

• Phase One targets large-scale projects seeking over $100,000 in funding. Applications for this phase are open until May 30, 2025.
• Phase Two, launching on August 4, 2025, is focused on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs and SMEs) applying for less than $100,000.

For Phase One, activities such as project evaluation, incubation, and onboarding will take place between June and December 2025, with disbursements scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026. For Phase Two, fund disbursement is slated to commence on April 1, 2026.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of players within the creative value chain—writers, directors, digital creators, designers, game developers, cultural tourism operators, training centers, media consultants, logistics providers, and legal experts, among others.

The review of applications will be carried out by independent professionals, with oversight provided by a Private Sector Investment Committee, ensuring transparency and objectivity in the selection process.

The CEDF will be managed as an independent, professionally-run investment vehicle, with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated acting as the principal shareholder. Private investors and international development partners are encouraged to explore co-investment opportunities or to support specific sub-funds aligned with their focus areas.

For more information and to apply, interested parties are advised to visit https://CEDFnigeria.com.