The Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), has partnered with Cascador to empower young Nigerian entrepreneurs through the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, implemented by Sapphital.
At the programme’s Final Pitch Day and Grant Award Ceremony, held on Monday, 9 November 2026, at the Afreximbank African Trade Centre, Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, presented grants totalling ₦49 million to 17 founders. The eight top-performing founders each received ₦5,000,000 in non-dilutive funding, while nine other founders received ₦1,000,000 each to support the growth of their businesses.
“To every founder in this room: today is not the finish line; the Ministry’s door remains open, and your journey with NiYA continues.”
Comrade Ayodele Olawande, Honourable Minister of Youth Development
The programme was launched in August 2026 to connect young Nigerians with skills, enterprise development opportunities and access to finance. Following a competitive application and selection process, 20 founders were selected for four weeks of intensive training covering business fundamentals, investment readiness, financial management and pitch preparation.
As the programme’s implementing partner, Sapphital coordinated activities spanning application management, founder selection, training, mentorship and grant administration.
Strengthening Business Sustainability Through SMECore
Beyond the financial grants, Sapphital extended additional support to the founders by providing one year of complimentary access to SMECore, its enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform designed to help small and growing businesses manage their operations efficiently.
Through SMECore, the founders will have access to digital tools for financial management and accounting, sales and customer relationship management (CRM), inventory management, human resources, business performance reporting and executive dashboards.
The platform is intended to help beneficiaries maintain accurate financial records, monitor business performance, streamline daily operations and make informed decisions as they expand their enterprises.
This contribution reinforces the programme’s commitment to sustainable entrepreneurship by ensuring that founders receive not only financial support but also practical digital tools to manage their businesses, strengthen accountability and support long-term growth.
Institutional Support and Capacity Building
Throughout the programme, founders also participated in specialised sessions facilitated by key government institutions, including the Office of the Vice President (OVP), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
These engagements provided practical insights into regulatory compliance, product standards, business formalisation, technology adoption, export opportunities and enterprise development.
Celebrating the Grant Recipients
The eight top-performing founders who received ₦5 million each are:
SewPRO, Biuda, Sparklean Station, Backel Food Services, Shellify, Rèkool Access Technology, Agrosavvy Consult and Craft Planet.
Nine additional founders received ₦1 million each, bringing the total grant disbursement to ₦49 million.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development congratulates all participating founders and expresses its appreciation to Cascador, Sapphital, the participating government institutions, facilitators, mentors and judges for their contributions to the programme’s success.
Through initiatives such as the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, the Ministry remains committed to expanding opportunities for young Nigerians, strengthening entrepreneurship and supporting the development of sustainable youth-led enterprises.
To explore learning, entrepreneurship and funding opportunities, visit niya.gov.ng.
