Access to affordable funding is the single biggest structural barrier facing Nigeria’s creative economy, ranking ahead of distribution networks, skills training, infrastructure, and IP protection tools. This finding is according to The State of Nigeria’s Creative Economy 2026, produced in partnership with Frontyard Group, an innovation and investment engine powering Africa’s creative frontier.
The report surveyed 377 Nigerian creatives after the last edition of the conference, held in Lagos on November 28, 2025. When respondents ranked six structural gaps, affordable funding and micro-grants came first. Notably, tools for IP tracking and anti-piracy ranked last.
“Nigerian creative professionals are not primarily asking for infrastructure to make things; they are asking for capital to start and routes to reach markets,” the report states. “The product exists. The pipeline does not.”
Ahead of the last edition of the conference, NECLive convener Ayeni Adekunle said that the industry must provide the infrastructure and frameworks to transform the creative-sector boom into economic power.
“We’re witnessing an unprecedented moment where our creative talents are gaining global recognition and commercial success. However, we must now focus on building the infrastructure, appropriate policies, and business frameworks that will ensure this momentum translates into sustainable economic power,” he said
The report recommends a “Creative Economy Lending Facility,” developed with fintech companies and development finance institutions, offering simplified collateral and repayment structures calibrated to the revenue cycles of creative projects.
The full report is available for download at nec.ng
