SMEDAN Launches Programme to Support 100,000 Young Entrepreneurs with Funding and Mentorship

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a new programme aimed at supporting more than 100,000 young Nigerians annually through entrepreneurship training, funding, mentorship and access to markets.

The initiative, known as the Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) project, was unveiled as part of activities marking International Youth Day 2026.

According to SMEDAN, the programme will provide support tailored to entrepreneurs at different stages of their businesses — from individuals with business ideas to established enterprises seeking to expand.

The initiative will combine business training, incubation, mentorship, access to finance, market opportunities and business development services through both physical and digital platforms.

SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, said the programme was created to bring different forms of entrepreneurial support together and make them more accessible to young Nigerians.

He said many young people have viable ideas, skills and businesses but often struggle to find the right support at the right time.

The agency said it plans to take 600 young entrepreneurs through its incubation programme every year, focusing on sectors including fashion, woodwork and agriculture.

SMEDAN will also collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education to introduce enterprise support in tertiary institutions. Student entrepreneurs will have access to business workshops, mentorship, networking opportunities and platforms to showcase their businesses, with some campuses expected to have up to 3,000 beneficiaries.

Through the BRYNE Digital Connect platform, young business owners will also be able to access entrepreneurship education and opportunities to reach customers and markets beyond their local communities.

Another component of the programme is a weekly startup hackathon expected to engage 5,000 young entrepreneurs. Fifty-two winners will emerge from the hackathons, with each winner receiving ₦250,000 in seed funding.

Bimpe Fawale, Deputy Director and Head of SMEDAN’s Women and Youth Unit, said young entrepreneurs require different forms of assistance depending on the stage of their businesses.

She explained that while some entrepreneurs need help turning ideas into viable businesses, others require financing, mentorship, market access or relevant business information to expand.

SMEDAN said the programme will also connect beneficiaries to opportunities for business formalisation, funding, investment, market access, business information and exports.

The agency expects BRYNE to help young Nigerians build sustainable businesses, expand existing enterprises and create more employment opportunities.