The African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the French Development Agency (FDA) have announced intentions to invest $618 million in Nigeria’s Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme (I-DICE) in an effort to increase funding for the country’s creatives.This information was presented by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, head of the AfDB, during the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum held in conjunction with the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York.According to the AfDB, the fund would assist 451 digital SMEs and 225 creative start-ups in the use of new technology. The AfDB chief added that the bank had invested 4.5 billion dollars in Nigeria thus far, and that the country remained an appealing investment destination. In addition, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the IsDB provided $540 million to develop Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones in Nigeria to help unlock agricultural potential, boost food and agribusiness value chains, and make Nigeria more competitive. Adesina emphasized the importance of reducing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, citing the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, which shows that Nigeria will require 759 billion dollars in total financing to support infrastructure over a 23-year period (2020-2043). Deutschepartners.com
