Engage Nigeria is part of the Skill Sprint initiative  launched in 2023 to train 20,000 Nigerian women and youth with vital digital skills. 

This national programme continues to support the country’s burgeoning creative economy with expanded reach and new partnerships. This cohort will benefit 6,000 creatives from across Nigeria.

Building on the success of its inaugural cohort, which saw over 2,200 participants receive valuable training and mentorship, Engage Nigeria continues to provide comprehensive training in music business and production, event planning and management, cinematography and videography, animation, graphic design, and content creation. 

This holistic approach ensures participants are well-prepared to navigate and thrive in the competitive creative industry. The programme also includes mentorship from seasoned professionals and networking opportunities with industry leaders, enhancing their learning experience and career prospects.

Nigeria’s creative landscape is a dynamic and growing sector, contributing significantly to the economy. From Nollywood’s global influence to the rise of Afrobeats, Nigerian creatives are making their mark worldwide.

The Engage Nigeria programme taps into this potential, providing participants with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in various creative disciplines.

A notable expansion in this cohort is the partnership with the GOYF Community Digitech Hub, bringing the initiative to the vibrant Eti-Osa 02 community in Lagos.

Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu, an esteemed member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa Constituency 02 and a key supporter of the programme, stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with C.I.I.F.A to bring the Engage Nigeria programme to our constituency. 

This partnership will unlock opportunities for our youth and provide them with critical skills indispensable to excel in the creative industry. It is a monumental stride towards fostering economic growth and innovation in Eti-Osa constituency 02 specifically and Lagos State at large.”

Godwin Tom, Founder of C.I.I.F.A., added, “Our mission at C.I.I.F.A is to empower the next generation of creative professionals in Africa. Partnering with GOYF Community Digitech Hub allows us to reach more young talents in Eti-Osa 02, providing them with the tools and knowledge to succeed in the creative economy. We are grateful for the support from Google.org in making this possible.”

Olumide Falegan, Manager, EMEA Music & Culture at Google SSA, highlighted the significant potential he sees in Nigeria’s youth, stating, “Digital technologies are not just tools, they are catalysts for endless possibilities. Through these platforms, our young talent can emerge as key contributors to the digital economy.”

How to Register

Applications for the second cohort of the Engage Nigeria programme are now open. Visit the website for more details or contact engageng@ciif.africa or 08172560000.

The funding, part of the N5 billion Creative Fund established in collaboration with Providus Bank in December 2023, aims to enhance the growth and development of the creative sector.

The initial disbursement of the Creative Fund began in May 2024, with N1.5 billion allocated to four actors and producers. Fegho Umunubo, the Special Assistant to the President on Digital and Creative Economy, shared this development on social media. He urged creatives seeking financial support to contact Providus Bank via email.

This initiative is designed to bolster Nigeria’s creative industry, which is rapidly expanding. The government is currently reviewing applications for the second round of funding to ensure more projects receive the necessary support.

In addition to this fund, the federal government is set to collaborate with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on a $617 million IDICE Fund. This fund targets the digital technology and creative sectors, aiming to drive socio-economic progress and position Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy. The iDICE programme, supported by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Bank of Industry (BOI), and AfDB, will span five years.

The government has also extended financial assistance to fashion startups, providing between N2-5 million per business in Enugu and Jigawa states. Initiated in May 2024, this support is targeted towards helping fashion trainees who have completed their programs to scale their businesses.

Again, a $3 million international investment has been secured for creative industry training in partnership with French companies, aimed at training Nigerian creatives with globally competitive skills. The NaijabrandChick Trade Fair has received N1 million per business for three enterprises showcasing Nigerian culture and creativity online.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) categorizes Nigeria’s creative sector into five sub-sectors: Media and Entertainment, Beauty and Lifestyle, Visual Arts, and Tourism and Hospitality. 

Currently, this sector employs around 4.2 million people. Projections suggest that the creative industry could create an additional 2.7 million jobs within the next four to five years. 

According to Mustard Insights, the Nigerian creative economy is expected to reach a valuation of $15 billion by 2025, with the movie industry alone valued at $6.4 billion.

The Ckrowd 1.4 version offers new features to support Live & On-Demand content publishing & monetisation for all, with a mission to provide inclusivity, value and profit for all creators, especially those from emerging economies. 

Focused on greater support for global content creators, Ckrowd will now be able to receive revenue in dollars and local currencies simultaneously, for the same content. This will also provide greater visibility and increased global appeal to creators in the Diaspora and emerging markets, where local-based revenues are often ignored when discussing monetisation. 

The ability to use the company’s innovative geo-pricing technology for consumers from local and international markets is a critical feature for modernisation, global revenues and content definition.

Several other improvements included in this release also build upon the strong foundation of features already available in the previous version Ckrowd 1.2. These include:

• ‘Ckrowd Live’ to be used by creators to demand payment to exclusive viewers for live digital performances
• Creators fixing prices for Live & On-Demand Content with advisory guidance from Ckrowd
• Creators to receive 70% of total income as payout from Ckrowd for their exclusive content
• Increased usage of Geo-pricing Technology for consumers from local and international markets
• Support for Security authorisation facility (SAF) – guarding your virtual meetings
• Receive revenue for consultation meetings or live teaching classes

Kayode Adebayo, CEO of Ckrowd, said: “Our aim is to have a very thriving creators’ economy, while providing content consumers with unique and original experiences, unlike anywhere else on the internet. We believe that until creators are able to connect with their super fans and exclusively and uniquely cater to them, the experiential dichotomies between these two parties aren’t complete. Ckrowd Technology enables Creators in any creative discipline to firstly cater to their super fans, while these super fans appreciate them financially for the personal access granted to them in chats, live and On-Demand content. Creators feel valued and can finance their own creative projects, operating as true SMEs and super fans are given a premium experience, that’s the Ckrowd promise.”

Ckrowd 1.4 also supports African film producers, where due to monetary, bureaucratic, and infrastructural challenges, many films that cannot make it to the cinema are released exclusively to digital audiences.

Additionally, many creators and professionals within the creative digital industry can employ Ckrowd Advert, whose large reach allows them to connect with more than 30million Nigerians at low-cost rates of 20 kobo or $0.43 per message via WhatsApp, SMS & Emails.

This upgrade will also enhance the entertainment experience offered by Ckrowd 1.4, where creators and customers can look forward to an all-inclusive, new excitement, content creation and gratuitous consumption.

Furthermore, it will offer creators the opportunity to generate high returns for their locally produced content and earn in local currencies, whilst their content is distributed globally to audiences looking for truly exclusive and tailored experiences.

The new Ckrowd 1.4 release will allow creators to better serve the fast-changing needs of users attracted to Africa and Afro-inspired creativity across music, cinema, theatre, gastronomy, literature, education and fashion just to name a few.

The creator’s economy and Ckrowd’s continued commitment will be to improve the integration platform through new technology and innovation to support the next generation of international content mavericks, especially those across lower- and middle-income countries.