The Federal Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and business development opportunities as part of efforts to promote youth-led enterprises across the country.
The programme, known as the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, is a collaboration between the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), operating under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and entrepreneurship development organisation, Cascador.
Announcing the initiative on Friday, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the programme is designed to equip young business owners with the skills and support required to build sustainable and investment-ready enterprises.
According to the minister, selected participants will undergo an intensive four-week training programme covering key areas such as business fundamentals, investment readiness, pitch development and strategic growth planning.
Participants will also benefit from one-on-one mentorship sessions with experienced entrepreneurs and business experts who will guide them through the process of strengthening and scaling their ventures.
At the conclusion of the programme, the best-performing entrepreneurs will receive up to ₦5 million each in non-dilutive funding. This means beneficiaries will not be required to surrender ownership stakes in their businesses in exchange for the financial support.
In addition to the funding, successful participants will gain access to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions designed to help them manage operations more effectively and position their businesses for long-term growth.
Olawande explained that the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between entrepreneurship training and access to finance, a challenge that continues to limit the growth potential of many young Nigerian businesses.
“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,” the minister said.
Applications for the programme are scheduled to open on August 19, 2026, through the Nigerian Youth Academy platform.
The government clarified that the ₦5 million funding is not a grant for every applicant but will be awarded to top-performing founders who successfully complete the programme and demonstrate strong business potential.
The initiative is expected to provide emerging entrepreneurs with practical skills, access to capital and the support needed to transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises capable of creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.
