Policy & Civic Health · Indicator 4
Public funding for nighttime culture
What this indicator asks
Does public funding in Lagos reach nighttime culture, and can grassroots organisers apply for it?
42.0/ 100 · Lagos
Lagos State has no cultural grant scheme with published eligibility. It sponsored over 200 festivals and programmes in 2026, decided case by case. An expert said collectives do apply for support for the December festivals but “don’t know of anyone who (eventually) received anything”.
The federal Creative Economy Development Fund is the only route open to an individual. It offers loans, equity and grants. It asks for a project overview, financial projections and ownership details, which a group with no company behind it cannot easily supply.
We looked at three elements: how directly funding is aimed at the night, who can apply, and how long it is committed for.
- Creative Economy Development Fund, federal government
- loans, equity and grants, with music in scope, open to individuals, businesses, cooperatives and organisations.
- Skill Up Lagos
- skills, visibility and livelihood support, which has reached over 1,000 creatives in two years.
- Lagos State with the Bank of Industry and Sterling Bank
- loans of up to ₦10 million at 9%, without collateral, for registered small businesses.