YouTube has, on Thursday, announced that artists and creators from Nigeria could apply for grants from its global 100 million dollar Black Voices Fund.
The Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, Alex Okosi, said in a statement that the global fund would, over the next three years, offer support to Black artists and creators.
According to Okosi, with the fund, artists and creators could thrive on YouTube.
The managing director said that Black Voices Fund would invest with the intention to present fresh narratives that emphasise the intellectual power, authenticity, dignity, and joy of Black voices, as well as to educate audiences about racial justice.
Okosi also revealed that that the $100m fund was first announced in June and was officially named the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.
This year, he said the fund will be focusing its efforts on creators within the US, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
He stated:
Our goal is to expand funding to more countries over the course of the next three years.
Additionally, we hope to provide a consistent drumbeat of educational training, workshops, and community events to Black creators and artists globally.
The #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund is part of the work currently underway to ensure that YouTube is a place where Black artists, creators and users can share their stories and be protected.
Along with our commitment to amplifying marginalised voices on the content side, we are also investing in product and policy changes that will continue to advance YouTube’s mission.
He said the mission of giving everyone a voice and showing them the world.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Another Gas Explosion Rocks Lagos, Claims Lives, Destroys Properties
Okosi said that YouTube believes that it is only by taking a stand against those who would try to bully, harass, silence and intimidate others that it truly moves closer to achieving this mission.
He said that YouTube’s new efforts included ramping up enforcement and terminating more accounts that repeatedly post hateful comments.
The MD YouTube was also in the process of rolling out product changes to make creator moderation tools more streamlined.
Okosi said that Interested artists and creators could apply for funding HERE.
The application window will open starting October 7 and will close on 21 October, 2020, at 5.00 p.m.
