Request for Expressions of Interest Creative Fund Manager

Nigeria's creative economy is at an inflection point. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has reopened a critical call for expressions of interest to identify a private sector-led **Creative Fund Manager**—a role designed to operationalize a multi-million-dollar intervention in Africa's largest entertainment market.

The initiative traces back to 2018, when the FGN formally established the **Creative Industry Fund** (also called the Creative Fund) as part of a broader pivot toward non-oil revenue diversification. Six years on, after initial structural delays and pilot phases, the government is now actively seeking qualified fund managers to deploy capital into film production, music distribution, digital content, animation, gaming, and design enterprises across Nigeria.

### Why the Creative Fund Matters Now

**What is driving this renewed push?**

Nigeria's creative sector generated an estimated $42 billion in 2023 (per PwC estimates), with Nollywood, music, and gaming commanding global attention. Yet access to patient capital—the kind needed to scale production, secure IP rights, and build sustainable studios—remains fragmented. Most creatives rely on self-funding, foreign investors, or informal lending. The Creative Fund aims to fill this gap by providing concessional debt and equity to vetted enterprises, de-risking growth and professionalizing the sector.

The fund manager role is critical: they will source deals, conduct due diligence, manage disbursements, monitor portfolio performance, and eventually exit investments. This is not grant-making; it's commercial asset management with a development angle.

### Market Context: Opportunity and Risk

The Nigerian creative sector's growth trajectory is real. Nollywood's streaming revenue grew 31% year-over-year (2022–2023). Gaming studios like Kano-based Lalaland Games have raised international capital. But infrastructure gaps persist: inadequate intellectual property enforcement, limited tax incentives for smaller producers, inconsistent power supply, and brain drain to South Africa and the UK all constrain scaling.

A professional fund manager can accelerate consolidation, attract institutional co-investment, and position Nigerian creatives for regional and global distribution deals. Early-stage backing for a music label or animation studio today could yield 3–5x returns within 5–7 years, particularly as SVOD platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+) continue to commission African content.

### What Investors and Creatives Should Watch

**Who qualifies as fund manager?**

The FGN typically seeks entities with 10+ years of fund management experience, proven track records in creative or tech investing, robust compliance frameworks, and regional presence. Applications are rolling; deadline and fund size specifics should be confirmed via the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy's official portal.

For creative entrepreneurs, this signals that institutional capital is mobilizing. Direct fund deployment could begin within 6–9 months of manager appointment, opening windows for pitch-ready studios, producers, and tech-enabled content platforms.

### Bottom Line

The Creative Fund Manager recruitment is a watershed moment for Nigeria's creative economy—a signal that the government is serious about capital mobilization beyond rhetoric. Success hinges on appointing a manager with both commercial discipline and creative sector insight. Failure to execute risks another years-long delay; success could unlock $100M+ in secondary investment.

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