Twenty young Nigerian entrepreneurs are set to receive business training, mentorship, and a chance to secure up to ₦5 million in funding under a new partnership between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and founder support platform Cascador.
The NiYA × Cascador Founders Program will select 20 early-stage entrepreneurs for a four-week programme, with eight of the top-performing founders receiving the non-dilutive funding at the end of the programme.
Applications open on August 19 through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA).
The four-week programme will focus on business fundamentals, investment readiness and pitch preparation. Participants will attend sessions in Abuja, alongside virtual sessions and one-on-one mentorship.
The eight selected founders will receive the funding at a pitch event organised by the Ministry of Youth Development and NiYA as they will also get access to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to help them manage their businesses.
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Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande said the programme was designed to help young Nigerians move beyond acquiring skills to building businesses that can attract investment.
“The real value is in helping young people move from learning to enterprise, from ideas to investable businesses, and from potential to sustainable economic participation,” he said.
Cascador CEO Trish Thomas said the partnership would help bridge the gap between having a business idea and becoming ready to receive funding.
Under the arrangement, NiYA and the ministry will handle founder selection, training and programme delivery, while Cascador will help assess participants, provide investment-readiness support, judge pitches and fund the top performers.
Cascador said it has supported 70 companies since 2019, with those businesses collectively raising more than $125 million.
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Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
