The Federal Government has invited young innovators and entrepreneurs from North Central and South East to apply for support on the platform of private-sector driven “Start-up Nigeria’’ empowerment programme.
Startup Nigeria is an intervention of the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) under the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as part of the program to support private sector innovation hubs for the strategic increase of entrepreneurial and technological capacity across Nigeria.
Applications into the programme have been kick-started by the coordinating firms, opening from April 7 to May 5.
It is a 3-month incubation program designed to help Nigerians with great innovative ideas – create viable products, go to market and gain traction.
The program will provide training, mentorship and equity free funding to selected startups, with a specially curated curriculum designed specifically to help idea and early-stage entrepreneurs find their footing and grow in Nigeria’s socio-economic terrain. Startup Nigeria gives founders the needed leverage to excel.
Other startups that don’t get accepted into the incubation program will also be able to access support in a business model generation, customer acquisition and other business engineering skills – from Startup Nigeria representatives located in every state in the North Central and South Eastern zones of the country.
Vice-President Yemi Osinabjo had stated that the Government would support eight private sector-led innovation hubs with one in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country with Lagos and Abuja having each of the private sector-led hubs.
Who can apply?
NORTH – CENTRAL
Any Individual or startup who has an idea or a solution in Agriculture and Governance as it affects the North-Central Region or the nation as a whole. Your state of residence or startup must be located in any one of these states; FCT, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa or Niger.
SOUTH – EAST
Any Individual or startup who has an idea or a solution in Commerce or Fintech as it affects the South-Eastern Region or the nation as a whole.Your state of residence or startup must be located in any one of these states; Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia or Ebonyi.
How to Apply
IDEA – STAGE APPLICATION
If you are still at the idea stage of your product, you can apply to participate in the Startup Nigeria Hackathon from which you get a chance to qualify for incubation.
EARLY – STAGE APPLICATION
If you have a startup with an MVP that falls into the listed sectors you can apply directly for incubation.
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