Guidelines for accessing federal government's ₦5m youth entrepreneurship fund

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The Federal Government has announced a new initiative that will provide up to ₦5 million in non-dilutive funding to selected young Nigerian entrepreneurs.

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The initiative, known as the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, is a partnership between the Nigerian Youth Academy under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Cascador.

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The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the programme on Facebook on Friday, saying it is designed to help young founders become investment-ready and gain access to funding.

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Under the pilot programme, selected early-stage entrepreneurs will undergo an intensive four-week programme covering business fundamentals, investment readiness, pitch preparation and one-on-one mentorship.

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At the end of the programme, the top-performing founders will receive up to ₦5m each in non-dilutive funding from Cascador.

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Beneficiaries will also receive an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to help them structure, manage and scale their businesses.

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According to the minister, the initiative is intended to bridge the gap between training and access to capital for young entrepreneurs, particularly those who may not yet have the financial history or networks traditionally required to secure funding.

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He said, “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.”

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The minister added that the partnership was the result of engagements between the ministry and Cascador, including a meeting he hosted on April 29.

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He said the initiative was an example of how such engagements could translate into practical opportunities for Nigerian youths.

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How to apply

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Applications for the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme will open on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

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Interested young Nigerian entrepreneurs can apply through the Nigerian Youth Academy website:

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Applicants should monitor the platform when applications open for the official eligibility requirements, application form and submission guidelines.

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The ₦5m is not a guaranteed payment to every applicant. The funding will go to top-performing founders selected through the programme.

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APPLY here from August 19: https://niya.gov.ng/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTsNwdwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTVkZkhPQTNBN0FzNzlJZ05zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeAY1h3dwnCihfEIcV-zBdr1TzMaV2B_6t9iqK2nzZIr7llXewFWj14F2prJM_aem_IISS-BO_jzDsFO_pKb0RUwn

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