By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria is set to roll out the $617 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) Fund in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
At a high-level meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musawa, with the Director General of AfDB, Mr Lamin Barrow, highlighted the huge potential of the creative economy to generate employment opportunities for millions of young Nigerians.
“With eager anticipation from the creative community, the IDICE fund emerges as a landmark transaction, providing a strategic platform for directing additional long-term financing into this dynamic sector”.
“We are delighted that the conditions precedent for the release of IDICE funds are nearing completion. We eagerly anticipate providing start-up funds to young creatives, facilitating the development and monetisation of their talents.”.
The Minister commended AfDB and other parties to the transaction for the remarkable achievement, now being emulated by other African nations.
Recall that in March last year, former Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, launched the flagship initiative and touted that it would drive vital funding for Nigeria’s digital and creative industries.
i-DICE was described as a major step toward significantly upscaling entrepreneurship and innovation in digital technology and creative industries, which include film, fashion, and music.
The new administration has now taken over, and the minister applauded the impact investment focus which includes elements such as geographical spread, first loss position of the FGN, and grants for capacity development, stressing that the minister will reflect this spirit in its nationwide awareness campaign on the initiative.
She highlighted that the i-DICE structure offers a platform through which the fundraising initiatives of her Ministry can be secured and assured that this opportunity will be thoroughly explored.
“Nigeria, having solidified its position as a global hub for music, film, and visual art, is strategically positioning itself to leverage the i-DICE funds. This move aims to consolidate its global standing and propel further expansion within the creative industry, in subsectors such as Design, Gaming, Content Creation, Animation, Culinary Arts, and Publishing”.
Mr Barrow, an integral part of the collaborative effort, provided insight into the fund structure, clarifying that i-DICE is built around a world-class governance framework, incorporating a steering committee that includes Mrs Musawa.
“AfDB has appointed the Bank of Industry as the executing agency to manage program implementation, reporting directly to the steering committee. The initiative is set to forge strategic partnerships with selected Universities and Polytechnics, major technology companies, and key players in the private sector.”
Acknowledging the eagerness of the creative community, Mr Barrow stated, “The youth are understandably impatient. Since the approval of IDICE, we have received daily inquiries about the launch. While the processes are intricate, we are on the verge of the roll-out phase.”
i-DICE comprises two major components: the intervention fund, a $147 million fund supporting enterprise and skills development, and the sectoral fund, a $433M fund divided into three categories – Creative Fund: Equity or quasi-equity to startups and SMEs in the creative sector; Tech Fund: Equity or quasi-equity to innovative early-stage and growth-stage start-ups and; Fund of Funds: Participations in closed-end Venture Capital Funds or Creative Business- focused funds.
Modupe Gbadeyanka