Young Nigerian entrepreneurs will have a new opportunity to access business training, mentorship and non-dilutive funding through the NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), is partnering with Cascador to support early-stage Nigerian founders who are building businesses and need help preparing for investment.
Applications for the programme are scheduled to open on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
Selected participants will take part in an intensive four-week programme focused on business development, investment readiness and pitch preparation. Top-performing founders will then have the opportunity to receive up to ₦5 million each in non-dilutive funding from Cascador.
What Is the NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme?
The NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme is a new initiative designed to help young Nigerian entrepreneurs move their businesses from the early stage towards investment readiness.
The programme is being delivered through a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development’s Nigerian Youth Academy and Cascador.
Rather than focusing only on classroom training, the programme will combine practical business development with mentorship and preparation for potential investment.
This gives participating founders an opportunity to improve their businesses while learning how to present their ventures to investors and other stakeholders.
What Participants Will Gain
Selected young founders will go through a four-week programme covering several areas of business development.
The programme will include:
- Business fundamentals to help founders strengthen their businesses.
- Investment readiness to prepare entrepreneurs for potential investors.
- Pitch preparation to help participants present their businesses effectively.
- One-on-one mentorship from experienced professionals.
- An opportunity to compete for up to ₦5 million in non-dilutive funding.
- Access to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to help businesses organise and manage their operations.
The funding is described as non-dilutive, meaning successful founders will not have to give up ownership of their businesses in exchange for the funding.
How Much Funding Is Available?
The top-performing founders at the end of the programme will each be eligible to receive up to ₦5 million in non-dilutive funding from Cascador.
The funding is intended to help young entrepreneurs strengthen and expand their businesses.
In addition to the financial support, selected founders will receive access to an ERP solution that can help them structure, manage and scale their operations.
Who Is the Programme For?
The initiative is targeted at young Nigerian entrepreneurs and early-stage founders.
It is particularly relevant to founders who have started building a business and want to improve their operations, become more investment-ready and gain access to experienced mentors.
The programme also recognises that early-stage entrepreneurs may have viable businesses but lack the financial history, networks or experience often required to access traditional sources of capital.
Applicants should check the official NiYA platform when registration opens for the full eligibility requirements and application instructions.
When Will Applications Open?
Applications for the NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme will open on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
Interested young entrepreneurs should prepare to submit their applications through the official NiYA platform once registration begins.
How to Apply for the NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme
Interested applicants can apply online through the official Nigerian Youth Academy platform.
Application Portal: https://niya.gov.ng
Applicants should use the official portal and follow the instructions provided when the application window opens.
Avoid submitting personal information through unofficial links shared on social media.
Take Note
The NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme offers more than a funding opportunity. Selected entrepreneurs will receive business training, mentorship and investment-readiness support before competing for funding of up to ₦5 million each.
If you are a young Nigerian founder looking to grow an early-stage business, 19 August 2026 is the date to watch.
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