CEDF ROLLOUT STRATEGY

What Is This Policy?

The CEDF Roll Out Strategy is the operational implementation plan for the Creative Economy Development Fund, translating the Fund's enabling legislation into phased disbursement cycles, eligibility criteria, application processes, and sectoral targets for Nigeria's film, music, fashion, gaming, visual arts, and performing arts industries.

Who Does It Target?

Individual creative practitioners: filmmakers, musicians, fashion designers, visual artists, game developers, and writers Creative SMEs and registered production companies at early, growth, and scale-up stages Content platforms, distributors, and rights management organisations supporting Nigerian creative works Youth-led creative enterprises and women-owned businesses in the cultural industries

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Deploy a minimum of N10 billion in grants, loans, and equity through the CEDF within the first three-year disbursement cycle Support at least 5,000 creative enterprises in the first three years across all six geopolitical zones Grow creative sector employment by 2 million jobs by 2025 and creative exports to $2 billion annually Establish a transparent, merit-based disbursement system that reaches practitioners beyond the Lagos and Abuja creative hubs

Key Features

Three-Window Disbursement: Grants for early-stage practitioners with no repayment obligation; loans at below-market rates for growth-stage enterprises; equity stakes for scale-up businesses with proven revenue Sectoral Quotas: Ring-fenced allocations for Nollywood, Afrobeats, fashion, gaming, visual arts, and crafts ensure no single sub-sector dominates Fund uptake Geographic Equity: A minimum of 30% of funds directed outside Lagos and Abuja to develop creative clusters in Enugu, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and emerging cities Digital Levy Revenue: The CEDF is capitalised partly through a levy on revenue earned by digital streaming platforms (Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, Apple) from Nigerian audiences IP-Backed Applications: The strategy introduces a framework allowing applicants to use registered copyright, trademarks, and music publishing rights as collateral to access CEDF loans Mentorship and BDS: Every CEDF grant recipient is linked to a business development services (BDS) provider for mentoring, financial management, and market access support

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; pilot disbursement round completed in 2023 to 2024 with 500 early-stage creative enterprises supported Implementing Body: CEDF Board; Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy; Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC); NFVCB Applications: Online application portal live at cedf.gov.ng; applications evaluated by an independent review panel with sector-specialist members Fund Size: Initial capitalisation N10 billion plus; scaled by digital levy revenue and international co-investment from UK DCMS and EU Creative Europe programmes

How to Access

Grant Window: Apply online at cedf.gov.ng with proof of creative work (copyright certificate, NCC registration, or NFVCB registration); grants of N250,000 to N2 million Loan Window: Register a business with CAC; submit two years of revenue evidence and a business plan; loans of N2 million to N50 million at 6 to 8% per annum Equity Window: Open to creative enterprises with annual revenue above N10 million; submit an investment pitch to CEDF's equity panel Contact: CEDF Portal: cedf.gov.ng | FMACTCE: tourismculture.gov.ng | NCC: copyright.gov.ng

Official Resources

Website: cedf.gov.ng | tourismculture.gov.ng | copyright.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Moshood Abiola Way, Zone 3, Abuja Policy Summary | Source: FMACTCE, CEDF Act 2022, NCC, NFVCB, Punch Nigeria, Vanguard | February 2026

Legal Framework

The CEDF Rollout Strategy operates under the National Policy on Creative Economy, the Creative Economy Development Fund legislation, and the Companies Income Tax Act (tax incentive provisions for creative enterprises). It aligns with the Copyright Act 2022, the National Film and Video Censors Board Act, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Act. International alignment is with UNESCO's Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.