NEWS
FG Unveils ₦5m Funding Programme for Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs
The Federal Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at supporting Nigeria’s next generation of business founders with access to mentorship, investment-readiness training and up to ₦5 million in non-dilutive funding.
The programme, known as the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, is a partnership between the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and Cascador.
The initiative is designed to address one of the major challenges confronting young entrepreneurs in Nigeria: the difficulty of moving from having a promising business idea to becoming investment-ready and securing the capital needed to grow.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the programme on Facebook on Friday, describing it as an opportunity to equip young founders with the practical knowledge, guidance and resources required to build sustainable enterprises.
Under the pilot programme, selected early-stage entrepreneurs will participate in an intensive four-week programme focused on key areas of business development. The training will cover business fundamentals, investment readiness, pitch preparation and one-on-one mentorship.
Beyond the training, the programme will provide a pathway to actual financial support. At the conclusion of the four-week programme, top-performing founders will be eligible to receive up to ₦5 million each in non-dilutive funding from Cascador.
Unlike conventional equity investment, non-dilutive funding does not require beneficiaries to surrender ownership or equity in their businesses, potentially allowing young founders to access growth capital while retaining control of their ventures.
In addition to the funding opportunity, successful participants will receive an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, which is expected to help them organise their operations, improve business management and establish systems capable of supporting expansion.
The Federal Government said the initiative is particularly important for young entrepreneurs who may have viable businesses but lack the financial history, investor connections or networks traditionally required to attract funding.
Olawande said the programme was deliberately structured to go beyond conventional entrepreneurship training by creating a stronger connection between knowledge acquisition, enterprise development and access to investment.
“We do not want to stop at training.
“We want to build a stronger bridge from learning to enterprise, from ideas to investment readiness, and from potential to sustainable businesses.”
According to the minister, the partnership with Cascador followed a series of engagements between the organisation and the ministry, including a meeting he hosted on April 29.
He said the development demonstrated how strategic engagements between government and private-sector partners could be transformed into practical opportunities capable of directly benefiting Nigerian youths.
The programme is expected to give participating founders an opportunity to sharpen their business models, understand what investors look for, improve their pitching abilities and receive direct guidance as they prepare their businesses for potential investment.
How to Apply:-
Applications for the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme are scheduled to open on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Interested young Nigerian entrepreneurs are expected to apply through the Nigerian Youth Academy platform at niya.gov.ng/.
Applicants have been advised to monitor the platform from August 19 for the official eligibility criteria, application form and submission guidelines.
The Federal Government also clarified that the ₦5 million funding is not a guaranteed payment to every applicant. Rather, the funding will be awarded to top-performing founders who emerge through the programme’s selection and evaluation process.
APPLY HERE FROM AUGUST 19:-
The initiative is expected to provide a significant opportunity for young Nigerian entrepreneurs seeking to transform their ideas and early-stage businesses into more structured, scalable and investment-ready enterprises.