In Nigeria, the federal government offers loans to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship with the overall goal of improving the Nigerian economy.
Government loans are funds given directly by the government or made by private lenders, like banks, and backed by the government. The loans are for a specific purpose and, in most cases, monitored for effective use.
Different government agencies facilitate federal government loans to provide support for small, medium, and large businesses.
Which Federal Government Agencies in Nigeria Support Business Owners?
Bank of Agriculture (BOA)
Bank of Industry (BOI)
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN)
Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM)
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)
58 Federal Government loans you can access and how to get it
The primary goal of the government in granting loans is to improve the economy, especially the underperforming sectors.
We will categorise the loans into the different sectors of the economy, so you can easily pick yours.
Micro, Small, Medium, and Large Enterprises
The size of a business is classified by the number of employees it has, among other factors. In Nigeria, microbusinesses have 1-9 employees. Small businesses have 9-49 employees. Medium businesses have 50-249 employees. Large businesses have 250+ employees.
Renewable energy/energy efficient products and technologies
Trade and general commerce. Only 10% of the fund will apply to trade and commerce, so they might not give it priority.
Other economic activity as the CBN prescribes.
Bottom of Pyramid: The Bank of Industry (BOI) facilitates this for micro-enterprises. It targets the funds at people/businesses who are economically active but have little or no access to the current commercial banking structure. It administers the fund through Microfinance Banks.
Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund: This fund is for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who are undergoing the one-year compulsory programme. You can only use it for businesses within the Bank of Industry’s SME clusters.
On-Lending to Commercial Banks. This is a partnership between BOI and commercial banks to facilitate easy access to MSMEs.
Solar Energy Fund: You can access this fund through BOI or other designated commercial banks.
Youth Entrepreneurship Support (Yes) Program: The Bank of Industry put this Fund in place to encourage self-employment in youths between the ages of 18–35 years. There is a minimum requirement of an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) qualification for applicants.
FGN Special Intervention Fund for MSME (NEDEP): This is a special fund by the Federal Government put in place as an intervention for MSMEs to get loans at an interest rate of 9%. The fund also serves loan applications from SMEDAN through the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP)
BRAVE Women: BOI executes this fund funded by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). The fund is to enable an empowering environment for women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria. This 5-year fund lasts until 2023.
Wholesale lending: The Development Bank of Nigeria provides wholesale term funding and risk-sharing facilities through Financial Institutions to MSMEs. Its primary aim is to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Next to oil, agriculture is without a doubt the most significant sub-sector in the Nigerian economy. To foster the growth of this sector, the government is facilitating several loan schemes. They are:
TheBank of Agriculture in fulfilling its objectives offers the following agricultural loan facilities:
Microcredit
Co-operative Family Feeding Programme (CFFP).
Operation Feed Yourself (OFY)
Agriculture Land Financing (ALF)
Input Procurement Credit Facility
Equipment Leasing Products Programme (ELPP)
Post-harvest process logistics and storage finance
Equipment Leasing Products Programme (ELPP)
Export Finance Product Programme (EFPP)
Youth Agricultural Revolution in Nigeria (YARN)
Women in Agriculture and Enterprise (WAE)
BOA Rural Business Initiative cooperative loans (BOARBI)
Maize Aggregation Scheme (MAS): For Feed-millers, poultry farmers, Silos, and Warehouse Operators and confectionery companies. You can apply for the scheme through the First Bank of Nigeria.
Paddy Aggregation Scheme (PAS): You can also access this through the First Bank of Nigeria.
National Program on Food Security (NPFS): The Bank of Industry implements this fund scheme with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. They target the fund at Agro-allied processors and Farmers.
Rice and Cassava Intervention Fund: This Fund is for the establishment of ten (10) medium scale Rice Mills of about 36,000 metric tons of paddy per annum and six (6) high-quality Cassava Flour Mills of about 18,000 metric tons of cassava tubers per annum. The Mills are to be in Kano, Kogi, Kebbi, Zamfara, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Ogun, and Anambra, States for the Rice Mills and in Ondo, Ogun, Abia, Delta, Nasarawa, and Cross River, States for the high-quality Cassava Flour Mills.
Sugar Development Council Fund: The fund is for the establishment and resuscitation of companies engaged in the production of sugar, ethanol, and sugarcane. The BOI put it in place to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined sugar. To facilitate this fund, the BOI works with the National Sugar Development Council.
Trade
Trade is one sector that dominates the Nigerian economy, at 16.86% of the GDP. This includes export, wholesale, and retail trade. The Nigerian government is especially promoting the export of locally made goods to grow the Naira. These are the loan facilities available for the trade sector, especially exports:
Export Credit Guarantee Facility: This is a guarantee given by NEXIM to banks that loan money to exporters. This is because of the reluctance of banks to loan money to exporters in the pre-shipment stage. Watch this short video to learn more about the facility. Export Credit Guarantee.
Non-Oil Export Stimulation Facility (NESF): The CBN administers this loan facility to boost the export of goods other than oil. They put it in place in October 2017 with a tenor of ten (10) years (i.e., it will last until 31st December 2027).
Direct Lending Facility: This is a fund specifically for exporters. It is to foster their trade and aid them with incentives, including equipment that will boost their production.
Foreign Input Facility: This is a loan given by NEXIM in foreign currency to some participating banks on behalf of loan applicants. To access this loan, you would have to go through a qualified bank.
Local Input Facility: This is like the foreign input facility, but the NEXIM bank issue the loan in the local currency.
Export Credit Insurance Facility: This insurance scheme is to cushion the effect of non-payment by buyers of export products. It only applies if the non-payment resulted from circumstances out of their control. Watch this video to learn more about this insurance facility. Export Credit Insurance.
Women and Youth Export Facility (WAYEF): This is fostering an increase in funding for women and youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years. This facility applies to Women and youth in the export of non-oil products.
Private developers dominate the real estate sector.
The government is not vested in this sector as it is “self-sufficient”. The developers get the most funding from commercial banks, which accept real estate investment as collateral.
A few of the government facilities are:
Solar Energy Fund: You can access this fund through BOI or other designated commercial banks.
National Housing Fund (NHF): The Federal Mortgage Bank sponsors and grants this fund to private Estate Developers amongst others. It is solely for developing housing for the NHF contributors.
Entertainment services
The Nigerian entertainment industry (Nollywood) is a fast-emerging and important sector of the economy.
To encourage its growth, the government put in place some facilities, which are:
This is a green area in the Nigerian economy. It has, however, been on the rise in Nigeria, just like in other parts of the world. The facilities that are available for now are:
Startup Investment Seed Fund: This fund is managed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority(NSIA). It was recently introduced by the Startup Act 2022. It is majorly for Tech startups
Manufacturing
This is an important sector of the Nigerian economy. It creates employment and fuels the economy through its activities. The loan facilities available are:
N235 billion CBN intervention fund for manufacturing, refinancing, and restructuring facilities for banks’ loans. They put it in place to increase the access of manufacturers to credit facilities, fast-tracking their growth.
N300 billion CBN power and airline intervention fund (PAIF). This is for fast-tracking the development of the power and Aviation Industry through easy access to credit facilities.
Light Manufacturing: This loan is for manufacturing companies involved in the production of:
Blocks & Interlocking Stones
Ceramics & Tiles
Chemicals and Paints
Cosmetics/Hair Products
Plastics
Recycling
Roofing Sheets
Soaps and Detergents
Lube Blending
Digital Printing/Multimedia Publishing
Doors and Window Frames
Furniture/Wood Processing
NADDC Fund: This is a fund for manufacturers of automobile parts and Car assembly plants.
BOI/State Matching Funds: This fund results from a partnership between BOI and some state governments. The fund is available to companies involved in manufacturing and Agro-processing. You can access it through the various states’ Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The fund is available in all states except Katsina, Lagos, F.C.T., Nasarawa, Plateau, Abia, Rivers, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Imo, and Jigawa states.
BOI/Dangote Foundation Matching Funds: This is a Five Billion Naira matching fund that business enterprises and Limited Liability Companies involved in manufacturing and Agro-processing can access.
Healthcare
Nigeria’s healthcare is a critical sector that has received as little attention as it should. There is, however, some movement to grow it. The few facilities available are:
Credit Support Scheme For The Healthcare Sector - This scheme is a measure put in place by the CBN to cushion the effect of Covid–19 by developing the healthcare sector. The exit date for the scheme is 31st December 2030.
Solar Energy Fund: You can access this fund through BOI or other designated commercial banks.
Fashion
Nigeria’s fashion industry is very important to the country’s culture and economy.
It includes everything from the production of raw materials to the creation of fashion items by designers and manufacturers.
It also includes retail sales, advertising, and promotion.
Fashion and Beauty Product: This is an initiative by the Bank of Industry to foster development in the following sectors of the fashion industry.
Adire (Tie & Dye) & Aso-Oke
Clothing (design and production)
Fashion/Beauty Training Institutes
Leatherworks
Distribution (local Label retailing)
Beauty salons (Hair, skin, face or make up, feminine cleaning, etc)
How Can I Access the Federal Government Sponsored Loans?
Different federal government agencies implement the loans. You can access the loans either through the agency directly or through the designated bank (commercial or microfinance).
You can view the specific requirements of each loan through the links provided above. There are, however, some requirements that are basic and common to all.
Valid means of identification (driving license, passport, voter’s card)
Proof of address
Guarantor and his personal details
Details of collateral offered
There are also some SME loans you can only access through clusters. That is a group of small business owners who are in the same industry. It could also be a co-operative society or an association.
This is a comprehensive list, but it is important to always research to weigh the options available to you. While researching, you might be lucky enough to access better options like grants or interest-free loans from non-governmental organisations. Overall, a federal government loan will ease your growth or expansion plans. You should not hesitate to apply. If you have questions about the loan application and its requirements, book a free consultation with our Counseal expert
Grants are non-repayable funds awarded by an entity, usually, government, foundations, corporations etc, to individuals or businesses. This is better than loans —you don’t need to worry about refunds or loan interests.
Let's get into all the grants available.
1. Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Funding:
MEST awards seed funding of between $50k - $250k to technology businesses. MEST also supports through advisory and provides working space, hands-on support, resources, and a vibrant community to help tech startups succeed.
Who can apply for MEST Funding:
Any African from the age of 18 and above can apply for this grant.
The initiative is supported by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment ( FMTI) and funded by the World Bank and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID). The project is aimed at job creation.
Who can apply to GEM:
Any Nigerian business within the sectors mentioned below
You will be invited to the induction workshop where you are expected to participate.
Accumulate enough points from the workshop to qualify
Your documents will be validated after qualifying and you will be awarded your grant.
You need the following to qualify for the grants:
A firm that is registered on the BIG platform
Your grant request must be between $10k and $50k
Your firm must be environmental and social compliant
Your firm must be operating in these sectors; entertainment,light manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, construction and real estate or any other business related to these sectors.
3. Google Grants for Women Empowerment Projects (GGWEP):
This is part of a series of new initiatives by Google aimed at supporting women-owned businesses.
Click on the box at the top right hand corner,click on programs
Under programs click on Innovation Prize for Africa
Go through the details of the seven steps process before applying
6. Youth Empowerment Nigeria (YEN):
This project has been established to address challenges such as job creation, leadership, Social work, etc. It is a youth-led programme that engages Nigerian youths productively.
Fill the application form. Note that you can also get the application form physically at their office. Address and contact details are on the website.
You will need the following for this application:
3 pages business summary/ proposal
2 recent passport photographs
National ID
Utility bill
Submit your fully completed application and prepare for the defence of your business summary. You will be called for the defence if your proposal is convincing.
Be careful not to submit your application twice.
7. KickStart Entrepreneurship Programme (KEP):
This is an initiative of the International Breweries Foundation and the arm of the International Breweries Plc. The foundation’s focus is on the enterprise growth and development of young entrepreneurs. The programme gives youths grants and mentoring for their businesses.
Your application will be reviewed online by two judges. If you make the top 50 finalist list, then you should prepare rigorously for your Video-call interview.
For this application you will need:
Existing business
3 years revenue for your business
CAC registration
Business proposal
12. African Women Development Fund (AWDF):
AWDF is a Pan-African grant-making organisation that supports the realisation and fulfilment of African women’s rights through funding of autonomous women’s organisations in Africa.
Check the application criteria, then go ahead to apply if you meet the terms.
For this application you will need:
Woman-led company
A business focused on empowering women
A proposal
A 3 years old registered business
13. British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation Farmers for the Future (F4F) Grant:
This initiative is focused on encouraging and supporting youths in sustainable agriculture. The foundation is currently targeting youths who are still in the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).
Be prepared to defend your business plan if shortlisted.
20 applicants will be shortlisted for a bootcamp. 10 businesses will be chosen from the bootcamp. 3 winners will finally emerge.
14. Greenhouse Capital (GHC); First Female Tech Accelerator in Nigeria:
GHC is a leading African Fintech investment fund focused on supporting start-up companies, and emerging top-notch entrepreneurs, in building the next wave of innovative technology companies.
Who can apply for GHC funds:
A Nigerian-based tech start-up that has at least one woman and one technical team member.
You need to have a beta-product and a business proposal ready for this application.
15. i-Startup South West Programme:
This is a Federal Government grant. The programme is aimed at opportunities for teams that have viable ideas and solutions in manufacturing, tech, agriculture, and governance.
Who can apply for i-Startup:
An individual or start-up who has an idea, solution, or product in tech, agriculture, health, governance, manufacturing, or the digital oil field. MUST be located in the South West of Nigeria.
An existing business or business that aligns with the United Nations' sustainable development goals led by a woman.
The existing business should have been in existence for at least 12 months
Company registration documents
17. FedEx Small Business Grant Content:
This contest has been developed to foster growth in small businesses.
Who can apply for FedEx Small Business Grant:
Any for-profit small business with a FedEx shipping account number that has been in continuous operation selling a product in market for at least six (6) months by the time the contest starts.
Make a 1 minute video introducing and pitching your business
With the video submit your business logo, photos and short business profile
To be eligible, you must:
have a registered business in Nigeria
have been in operation for over a year
have less than 50 employees
have been using FedEx shipping service within 12 months of applying
18. UNICEF Innovation Fund:
The UNICEF Innovation Fund is looking to make up to $100K equity-free investments (in cryptocurrency) to provide early stage funding and mentoring to for-profit technology startups that have the potential to benefit humanity. If you have a start-up registered in Nigeria, this is a good one.
Who can apply for UNICEF Innovation Fund:
There is no age limit for this grant. Only that your start-up must be legally registered in a UN program country; in this case is Nigeria.
Check if you are eligible to apply. To be eligible, you must:
have a registered business in Nigeria and
your solution must be open source.
Application deadline:
November 30, 2022. Deadlines for subsequent years will be announced.
19. FoodTech Innovation Awards:
The award recognises the most innovative business models or technology that can create a change in the food sector. The tech category awards the most innovative food tech startup.
Who can apply for FoodTech Innovation Awards:
All organisations which are identified with this aim are cordially invited to submit their proposals to the Food 4 Future.
The link takes you to a page where you are required to fill a form and read the terms and conditions.
Submit the form when you are done filling the required spaces.
20. Africa Food Prize (AFP):
The award recognizes outstanding individuals that are leading the effort to change the reality of farming in Africa—from a struggle to survive to a business that thrives in Africa.
Who can apply for AFP:
African entrepreneurs who are focused on creating food security in Africa.
How to apply for AFP:
Look out for a call for applications on the AFP.org website
Fill application form
Further details will be sent to your email.
21. Africa No Filter Media Grant (ANF):
The grant contributes to an increase in African storytellers and content creators. It is an initiative that gives space to voices that are historically misrepresented in Africa.
Who can apply for ANF grant:
Bloggers, Vloggers, Content creators, Authors, Musicians, Photographers, Poets who are Africans, and based in Africa.
This is a MasterCard initiative. The objective is to harness innovative solutions that will enhance rapid growth in the food sector as well as increase farmers' output and profits. This will in turn, create new jobs and food security in Nigeria.
Click on the link provided for application and apply.
Note you need these for the application:
At least a team of 2
A viable product
Business model
Application deadline:
October 3, 2022. Deadline for subsequent years will be announced.
23. Africa's Digital Innovation Competition (ADIC):
The competition is focused on giving grant awards to entrepreneurs and startups for developing solutions with digital products and services and in turn impacting Africa positively. The competition focuses on fintech and cyber solutions, Sustainability and supply chain solutions, and Human development and social services solutions.
Make a 2 minute video pitch to address the problem you want to solve or a product.
Fill out the application form on the website.
You need the following for you application:
A registered business in Nigeria
Must be an African owned business
Your business must not be older than 5 years
Submit your application form and 2 minutes of video.
24. USAID Digital Development Awards (Digis):
The Digis celebrates USAID projects and activities that embrace the Agency's strategic goals of improving development and humanitarian assistance outcomes through the use of digital technology and strengthening open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems
Who can apply for Digis:
Nigerians who have Nigerian based businesses.
How to apply for Digis:
Go to the USAID.gov for application details which will be published when there is a new call for applications.
25. Swedish AI Fund (SAIF):
This grant is targeted at helping African AI startups to expand.
Choose any of the 13 categories of grants that fits your AI startup.
Click on the 'apply' button that will take you to a Google form.
Read the instructions on the form carefully, then fill and submit.
Who can apply for SAIF:
Anyone who provides services to the AI Industry toward equality, safety, and security, your program can be covered by SAIF.
If you're looking for ways to ease your financial burden and take your business to the next level, these 25 grants for small and medium businesses in Nigeria could be a great option. Many of these grants also include professional training to help you more effectively manage your business.
Are you in need of finances to start or expand your business? To move your business to the next level, you can secure a grant. I will explain what a grant is in this article, and you will also have access to details of the top 28 grants in Nigeria in 2022. You will learn specific details on how to apply and criteria for each grant. But, first, let see what a grant means:
What is a Grant (for Nigerian Businesses)
A grant is a financial aid from the government or non-governmental organisations. It helps people who lack financial support for their ventures.
Grants are more beneficial than loans. Unlike loans where you have to pay back with interest, but you do not have to pay grants back. You also do not need collateral for grants, you only need to meet the requirements of the organisation to apply.
There are several grant opportunities in Nigeria today. Grants in Nigeria are either government-issued or non-government-issued financial aid based on the merit of a project, as well as personal attributes such as gender and location, education, business, age, etc.
The main types of grants are:
project grants: These are financial grants awarded to individuals or teams towards a particular project.
capital grants: This is a sum of money given by government to an organisation to buy buildings, land, equipments, etc.
capacity building grants: This is awarded by foundations to non-profits to work on fresh ideas or strategies for improved performance.
scholarships: This is a finance aid given to students to further their education.
grants for home purchase: This is a government grant given to first-time homebuyers.
job training grants: These are grants given by employers to workers for training.
business grants: These are financial aids given to individuals, businesses, or corporations by government at all levels or foundations.
Agricultural grant: These are grants given to farmers or agricultural businesses by government or foundations
Tech grants: These are grants awarded to tech-oriented start-ups, projects, ideas, etc.
These are just a few. To keep you informed on available grants in Nigeria, I have collected the top 28 grants in Nigeria. I have grouped the grants into 4 sections to help you navigate easily:
Section 1: General Business Grants:
African Young Entrepreneurs Empower Nigeria (AYEEN):
This is an initiative by the African Young Entrepreneurs Organisation (AYE). The initiative is focused on empowering young entrepreneurs in Africa. Grants are awarded based on your business plan.
How to apply for AYEEN:
Login to AYE website
Click on AYEEN application form
Fill registration form carefully and submit
It is an essential criterion to follow A.Y.E on all social media platforms.
You will get an email from AYE if your registration is successful. The mail will include details of how to move to the second stage of your application.
The following are the documents you need to make your application seamless:
Business plan (compulsory)
Business registration details
You will receive an email to submit the above documents, which will be reviewed at the AYE head office in Johannesburg.
If you move to the next stage, prepare thoroughly for the regional screening, which takes place in 6 regions across Nigeria.
Sometimes, you might be called on to physically defend your business plan before international judges. So, be sure to get all your details right and be prepared for any type of questions.
Winners of the AYEEN grant are usually announced at the AYEEN convention, hosted in Lagos at the end of every year.
Who can apply for AYEEN:
Anyone from the age of 18 and above can apply for this grant.
Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF):
The foundation is a non-profit empowerment organisation founded in 2015 by Tony Elumelu, C.O.N. He is an entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist who is passionate about Africa's economic development. The foundation is dedicated to helping young men and women across Africa through job creation.
How to apply for TEF:
Login to the TEFCONNECT website. You will be required to sign up.
On the landing page after signing up, you will see two options:
pick the option that says Entrepreneur and complete the Onboarding form.
Completing the onboarding form will take you to the TEF training page, where you see your initials at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Click on the indent sign at the top left corner to see the Application window.
The application window is where you will fill your application form.
You must complete the application form by answering a series of mandatory questions, upload required documents and identification materials. Personal information supplied in the application form, such as names, addresses and date of birth, must tally with identification documents provided.
You must also have a business in mind with a quality business plan.
Once the form is submitted, you will receive an email within 1 business day confirming receipt. Once submitted, you cannot alter or amend applications.
Selection is done by an independent consultant based on these criteria:
Feasibility
Market opportunity
Financial understanding
Scalability
Leadership potential and entrepreneurial skills
If you meet the criteria,you will be selected for the programme and offered a legal agreement that must be signed and returned in 5 working days.
Who can apply to TEF:
Anyone African who has a business in Africa and is aged 18 and above.
Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF):
This is an initiative by the Lagos state government for residents of Lagos state. The goal being wealth and job creation for Lagosians. The trust fund is open to provide financial support for micro, small and medium enterprises in Lagos state.
How to apply for LSETF:
Go to the lsetf.ng website.
Click on the text that says 'apply for the artisan fund'.
Fill in all the required information.
You will need these to complete the form:
CAC certificate
Official Id
12 months bank statement
Soft copy of passport photograph
A business plan
Proceed to submit after checking that all your information is correct.
If your application meets the requirements,you will be shortlisted.
Who can apply for LSETF:
Anyone between 18-35 years.
YouWIN Connect Nigeria:
YouWIN means Youth Enterprise with Innovative In Nigeria. It is a Federal government grant initiative in Nigeria. It is designed to help youths between ages 20-45 start or expand their businesses. With a good and convincing business plan, you can get between 1million naira and 10million naira as grant.
How to apply for YouWIN:
Go to the YouWIN website.
Sign up and click the confirmation link sent to your mailbox.
You will be redirected to the Business plan page where you need to sign in with your username and password.
Fill the form on the landing page. Please save your points as you type and stay on the page until you submit.
You will need the following for the application:
An existing business and/or a business plan
Your business' location must be in Nigeria
A valid ID
The organisation strictly rejects businesses related to gambling, alcohol, or weapons.
Submit your application and wait for the YouWIN email if you're shortlisted.
Who can apply for YouWIN:
Any Nigerian between 20 - 45 years can apply.
Shell LiveWire Funding:
This initiative was launched in 2003 in Nigeria. It is aimed at providing access to entrepreneurship training, business development services, and business startup capital for youths.
How to apply for Shell LiveWire:
Go to the livewire.shell website and sign up.
Click the icon on the top right-hand corner and click Apply.
Click on Candidate assessment and fill the form, with full details. Please note that you cannot save the form so stay on it till you are sure you are done,then submit. I advise that you write all your long answers somewhere before filling the form. It makes the process easier and faster.
If you meet the requirements, you will get an email for the next stage.
Who can apply for Shell LiveWire:
Nigerians between the ages of 18-35.
Youth Empowerment Nigeria (YEN):
This project has been established to address challenges such as job creation, leadership, Social work, etc. It is a youth led programme that engages Nigerian youths productively.
How to apply for YEN:
Go to YEN’s website and sign up.
Fill the application form. Note that you can also get the application form physically at their office. Address and contact details are on the website.
You will need the following for this application:
3 pages business summary/ proposal
2 recent passport photographs
National ID
Utility bill
Submit your fully completed application and prepare for the defence of your business summary. You will be called for the defence if your proposal is convincing.
Be careful not to submit your application twice.
Who can apply for YEN:
Nigerians between the ages of 12-21
KickStart Entrepreneurship Programme (KEP):
This is an initiative of the International Breweries Foundation and the arm of the International Breweries Plc. The foundation’s focus is on the enterprise growth and development of young entrepreneurs. The programme gives youths grants and mentoring for their businesses.
How to apply for KEP:
Go to the official webpage of KEP and sign up.
Fill the application form
Note that your business must be 0-3years old and must be in Nigeria.
Who can apply for KEP:
Nigerians between 18-35 years
Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge in Nigeria:
It is an initiative of the Ugwumba Centre for Leadership development in Africa. The goal is to work towards an African continent whose democracies and economies are driven by young people and women who are building peaceful democratic systems and successful businesses.
How to apply for Ungwumba Enterprise Challenge:
Go to the Ugwumba Leadership Centre website.
Click the small box at the top right-hand corner. Go to programs and click on Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge.
Click on the green button that says 'start your application'
Fill the Google form and submit.
Note you need to have a business idea and plan before you fill this form. You will be required to answer questions about it.
Who can apply for Ungwumba Enterprise Challenge:
Nigerians between the ages of 18-40.
Application deadline:
September 30,2022.
Women in Africa Entrepreneurs Grants (WIA):
This grant is hosted by Women in Africa,a company whose mission is to help women entrepreneurs and leaders to impact Africa's economy.
How to apply for WIA grants:
Go to the WIA website. Click apply on the landing page.
The apply link will take you to the information page. Here you will see How to apply:.
Submit your application and wait for the announcement of finalists
For this application you need:
A business and/or a business plan
A woman-led team or business
Your business must be in the 8 business categories: please check the website for details on this.
Who can apply for WIA grants:
Any African woman entrepreneur or leader.
Africa's Business Heroes Funds:
This is the flagship program of the Jack Ma Foundation in Africa. The goal is to grow local talents and inspire an African entrepreneurship movement.
How to apply for Africa's Business Heroes funds:
Apply on Jack Ma Foundation's website.
Your application will be reviewed online by two judges. If you make the top 50 finalist list, then you should prepare rigorously for your Video-call interview.
For this application you will need:
Existing business
3 years revenue for your business
CAC registration
Business proposal
Who can apply for Africa's Business Heroes funds:
A Nigerian founder or Co-founder of a company based in Nigeria.
African Women Development Fund (AWDF):
AWDF is a Pan-African grant-making organisation that
supports the realisation and fulfilment of African women’s rights through funding of autonomous women’s organisations in Africa.
How to apply for AWDF:
Go to the AWDF website. Sign up
Check the application criteria, then go ahead to apply if you meet the terms.
For this application you will need:
Woman-led company
A business focused on empowering women
A proposal
A 3 years old registered business
Who can apply for AWDF:
Any African woman who leads or manages a company.
Section2: Agriculture/Farmers' Grants
Leventis Foundation Agricultural Training Program:
This is an agricultural grant initiative by Leventis PLC.
How to apply for Leventis Foundation Agricultural Training Program:
Go to the Leventis foundation website.
Click on the link provided for application. The link will take you to a Google form.
Note you need these for the application:
Business name and address
Your production site
Business phone number
Business proposal
Who can apply for Leventis Foundation Agricultural Training Program:
Nigerians between the ages of 18-35.
Agrohack challenge in Nigeria:
This is a MasterCard initiative. The objective is to harness innovative solutions that will enhance rapid growth in the food sector as well as increase farmers' output and profits. This will in turn, create new jobs and food security in Nigeria.
How to apply for Agrohack challenge in Nigeria:
Go to the MasterCard agrohack challenge website and sign up.
Click on the link provided for application and apply.
Note you need these for the application:
At least a team of 2
A viable product
Business model
Who can apply for Agrohack challenge in Nigeria:
Nigerians between the ages of 18-35 years.
Application deadline:
October 3, 2022.
Global Food Initiative Grants (GFI):
This grant is a Church of Brethren fund organised to support agricultural efforts.
How to apply for GFI grants:
The Church of Brethren awards grants year round and announces criteria at each call for applications. The same goes for eligibility.
Seeding the Future Foundation Grants:
It is hosted by the Institute of Food Technology (IFT). The goal is to encourage and support innovative teams to transform the food system. There are two types of grants; the seed grant and the growth grant.
How to apply for Seeding the Future Foundation Grants:
Go to the IFT website and sign up.
Calls for grants will be announced on the website and also sent to your email.
Apply on the website.
You need the following for the application:
An innovative agriculture oriented idea
A team
A proposal
Who can applyfor Seeding the Future Foundation Grants:
Criteria for eligibility are usually announced when there is a call for applications.
British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation Farmers for the Future (F4F) Grant:
This initiative is focused on encouraging and supporting youths in sustainable agriculture. The foundation is currently targeting youths who are still in the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).
How to apply for F4F Grants:
Go to the BATN foundation website to apply.
Submit your application. You will need:
A business idea and plan
Be prepared to defend your business plan if shortlisted.
20 applicants will be shortlisted for a bootcamp. 10 businesses will be chosen from the bootcamp. 3 winners will finally emerge.
Who can apply for F4F Grants:
Any youth still in the NYSC.
WSA Young Innovators Award:
The World Summit Innovators Award is a non-monetary grant focused on achieving sustainable knowledge transfer using a worldwide network. Winners get a one-time financial reward but also get a lifelong partnership and integration.
How to apply for WSA Young Innovators Award:
Write an email to the WSA office introducing yourself to your WSA National Expert. Your National Expert will guide you through the local steps needed to apply for WSA.
Your project will be reviewed and evaluated by the WSA National Expert if it meets the standards of WSA.
After the evaluation, the WSA National Expert will decide if they wish to nominate your project for WSA, based on innovation, local impact and quality.
If you are nominated, you will receive a confirmation email to complete your application. Please make sure to check your spam folder.
Who can apply for WSA Young Innovators Award:
Any team, company, student, or entrepreneur under the age of 26.
Section 3: Tech Grants
Greenhouse Capital (GHC); First Female Tech Accelerator in Nigeria:
GHC is a leading African Fintech investment fund focused on supporting start-up companies, and emerging top-notch entrepreneurs, in building the next wave of innovative technology companies.
How to apply for GHC funds:
Go to GHC's website and create an account
Confirm your account
Submit your application
You need to have a beta-product and a business proposal ready for this application.
Who can apply for GHC funds:
A Nigerian-based tech start-up that has at least one woman and one technical team member.
i-Startup South West Programme:
This is a Federal Government grant. The programme is aimed at opportunities for teams that have viable ideas and solutions in manufacturing, tech, agriculture, and governance.
How to apply for i-Startup
Go to the NSIP Premier Hub Innovation Centre website.
Click the 'Apply now' button
The button will take you to the form. Make sure to fill all required information.
Submit and print out your confirmation slip
Be on the lookout for email for the next stage if you are selected.
Who can apply for i-Startup:
An individual or start-up who has an idea, solution, or product in tech, agriculture, health, governance, manufacturing, or the digital oil field. MUST be located in the South West of Nigeria.
Standard Chartered Woman in Tech Incubator - WITI3:
This program focuses on supporting early to mid-stage female professionals in the technology and business sectors.
How to apply:
Go to the SC Some toolkit website and register
Apply and submit application
For this application you will need:
An existing business or business that aligns with the United Nations' sustainable development goals led by a woman.
The existing business should have been in existence for at least 12 months
Company registration documents
Who can apply:
Nigerian female between the ages of 18-35.
UNICEF Innovation Fund:
The UNICEF Innovation Fund is looking to make up to $100K equity-free investments (in cryptocurrency) to provide early stage funding and mentoring to for-profit technology startups that have the potential to benefit humanity. If you have a start-up registered in Nigeria, this is a good one.
How to apply for UNICEF Innovation Fund:
Go to the UNICEF Innovation website.
Check if you are eligible to apply. To be eligible, you must:
have a registered business in Nigeria and
your solution must be open source.
Who can apply for UNICEF Innovation Fund:
There is no age limit for this grant. Only that your start-up must be legally registered in a UN program country; in this case is Nigeria.
Application deadline:
November 30, 2022.
AXA Research Fellowship Grant:
The AXA Fellowship is a scheme that aims to support young, promising researchers on topics that align with AXA and the Society. The goal is to have transformative support for the researcher and the advancement of their research field.
How to apply for AXA Research Fellowship:
Express your interest through the European Science Foundation's online platform.
Your application must include:
Your date of birth and PhD defence date
A short CV; 3 pages at most
Your research programme's title and description (3000 characters including spaces)
Submit your application in English to the online platform mentioned in No. 1.
You will have a chance for rebuttal before your application is reviewed. So, please be well prepared.
Results will be displayed on the website and also communicated through email.
Who can apply for AXA Research Fellowship:
Candidates should be at most PhD+ 5 years with evident scientific excellence and high potential for innovation, transformation and dissemination.
FoodTech Innovation Awards:
The award recognises the most innovative business models or technology that can create a change in the food sector. The tech category awards the most innovative food tech startup.
How to apply for FoodTech Innovation Awards:
Go to the Xpo Foodtech website.
Click on the 'I want to apply now' button.
The link takes you to a page where you are required to fill a form and read the terms and conditions.
Submit the form when you are done filling the required spaces.
Who can apply for FoodTech Innovation Awards:
All organisations which are identified with this aim are cordially invited to submit their proposals to the Food 4 Future.
Section 4: International Grants
USAID; Augmenting Humanitarian Capacity for infectious disease emergencies:
The United States grant for Augmenting Infectious Disease is aimed at supporting programs that have global scope, providing support, capacity building, tools, and recommendations that would be relevant across a wide range of humanitarian contexts. This is to ensure rapid response in case of future Infectious disease outbreaks.
How to apply for USAID:
Go to the USAID website and read the instructions.
Register to sign up
Apply with relevant documents.
Who can apply for USAID:
There are no clear-cut restrictions for this grant but you have to be in a humanitarian organisation and deal with health-related issues.
Application deadline:
September 16, 2022.
MasterCard Foundation Fellowship Grant:
This is aimed at empowering African students and young graduates to start or expand scalable businesses. To make this more effective, MasterCard collaborates with different institutions and organisations such as the Jim Leech MasterCard Foundation Fellowship.
How to apply for MasterCard Foundation Fellowship Grant:
Please sign up to the Queen's University website to get updates on the next Call for application. Requirements differ from time to time.
Who can apply for MasterCard Foundation Fellowship Grant:
Any Nigerian- based in Nigeria, between the ages of 18 -35.
Application deadline:
October 31, 2022.
Ford Foundation grants:
This grant is given to individuals through nomination for the Ford Foundation fellowships. The JustFilms grant is one of the initiatives of the Ford Foundation suited for Nigerians and Africans generally.
How to apply for Ford Foundation Grants:
Go to the Ford Foundation website scroll down the landing page
At the bottom of the page, there are two initiatives; you are looking for the JustFilm button.
Click on the button, read the requirements, and
Fill the submission form adequately and submit.
Note that you need to have prepared your video document before application.
Note also that your application will only be attended to when there is a call to apply.
Who can apply for Ford Foundation Grants:
Anyone that makes the foundation is qualified for the grant.
Rockefeller Foundation Grants:
The grant is targeted at promoting the well-being of humans around the world. The Rockefeller Foundation grant is committed to many sectors ranging from health to power and climate.
How to apply for Rockefeller Foundation Grants
Go to the RF foundation website.
On the Grant window, choose the sector that best suits your business or organisation.
Choose a suitable grant under the sector.
Follow the instructions and apply.
Who can apply for Rockefeller Foundation Grants:
An organisation that is tax exempt or an individual seeking support for an educational or charitable project.
Centre for international Private Enterprise (CIPE) Grants:
This is a non-profit, private sector organisation that provides financial support in the form of grants to non-government business organisations. The aim of this grant is to encourage the growth of private enterprise principles that contribute to democratic development.
How to apply for CIPE Grants:
Details on How to apply: it is usually made public when there is a call for application. So, please keep visiting the CIPE website for updates.
While there are several other grants available to you in Nigeria, listed are the top 28 grants.
Apply to one of these ongoing grants to start a business. Do you need help applying for one of these or not sure if you qualify, reserve your free session with one of our seasoned experts to kick-start your process.
To decide which way to go, you need to make some considerations, such as:
Knowing and analysing your capital projections and financial needs
While you consider what you need to get started, also consider what you will need to keep the business afloat while raising funds.
Craft a solid pitch and hone it to almost perfection.
Speak to relevant professionals
Consider the pros and cons of each type of financing to choose the one that best suits the vision you have for your business.
You need to be conversant with your business accounting. It helps you know how much you will need to get started and secure the best financing for your business
Connect with friendly business founders who are ready to mentor. You can check out Founder Institute Mentors which is a directory of Nigerian start-up experts spanning across various fields.
Financing Options Open to Business Start-ups
Let's group them into:
Debt financing: This is simply loans. It can be sourced from financial institutions, government agencies, friends, and family. You must pay back your loan with interest within a certain period. If you don't want to give up control of your business, this is a good option. It helps when you have a history with the lender, e.g., operating a corporate account with a bank. It is a major requirement to get a business loan from a Nigerian bank.
Equity Financing: This provides you with the funds you need for a stake in your business. It could be shareholding or taking up a directorial position for a specified period. The beauty of this is that there is no obligation to repay. It gives you the opportunity to channel more money into your business. The more investors you bring into your business, the less control you will have. To curb this, strive to understand fully the terms of the agreements/contracts entered into.
Let us break them down into the most available options.
Business loans: This is majorly institutional funding. Banks and other financial institutions have several business loan packages, both for start-ups and established businesses. The government also offers incentives to small and medium-scale businesses to help ease their growth through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
Crowdfunding: This raises funds by pooling resources from all and sundry. It is usually small amounts of money, but as the saying goes, “tiny drops make a mighty ocean”. In countries like the United States of America, crowdfunding can include strangers on platforms like GoFundMe. Nigeria, for now, restricts crowdfunding, especially for private businesses, unless it complies with the conditions laid down by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You can, however, do this within your circle of friends and family.
Angel Investment: This is a flexible means of raising funds. It could either take the form of debt or equity financing. It all depends on your angel investor and his terms of investment. The Lagos Angel Network is a team of angel investors committed to seed funding and mentoring entrepreneurs. They are, however, limited to Lagos, Ibadan, and Abeokuta. There are also individual angel investors in Nigeria that you can look out for.
Personal Contacts/Networking: These are your circle of friends and family. It also extends to their friends and acquaintances, meeting new people in your everyday life and striking up conversations about your business. This is like angel investors, as it could be debt or investment. It could also be a gift.
Self-funding: Bootstrapping. If you have it, this is the most convenient way of funding your business. Sadly, this option is not available to everyone.
Venture capital: This is a major source of investment for start-ups. They are private investors who fund your business for a stake in it. They eventually ease out of the business when their investment capital and some profits are realised as predetermined by the Venture Capital Agreement/Contract.
Now, let's assess the realities of funding a start-up.
The Realities of Funding a Start-up
Funding a start-up is hard, especially when you can’t provide the funding from your personal resources. To successfully address this, let’s consider the costs that need to be covered by business start-ups.
They include, but are not limited to:
Outsourcing workforce and skills
Legal and other professional fees
Buying and leasing of equipment
Product design and prototype development
Payment of utilities and tax
Getting licensing and permits
Acquiring office space
Payment of salaries
For web-based businesses, costs could include:
Subscription to professional software
Web and application development
Purchase of hardware to facilitate web access
Cloud Storage
Making a list of your projected costs can help you focus and prevent making financial mistakes. You can build a worksheet to get a better handle on it. It helps you to:
Estimate profits
Conduct a break-even analysis.
Secure loans
Attract investors. It shows how focused and diligent you are, especially when you include it in your business plan.
You need to know the challenges faced by start-up businesses to be prepared to tackle them as they pop up.
Major Funding Challenges in the Start-Up Environment in Nigeria
Financial management: this can make or break a start-up. It is one prerequisite for obtaining funding. Investors and lenders look into your finances to find out your plans and management skills. Financial mismanagement could stem from mixing your personal funds with your business funds.
Lack of Collateral: Getting a loan when you don’t have a credit history and no valuable collateral can be difficult. The best alternative here is to look into government aid, crowdfunding, angel investors and venture capital.
Lack of market access: where there is a lack of demand for the goods or services offered, it will be difficult to sustain the growth of your business.
Poor financial inclusion and inadequate access to credit facilities: There is a limit to the pool of funds available to start-ups. Banks are reluctant to give out tangible money to start-up businesses because of the fear of failure.
Higher transactional costs in comparison with large enterprises: Large enterprises have the advantage of economies of scale, which makes it difficult for smaller companies to compete with them. This causes an inability to compete against larger firms in terms of innovation, research, and development, which is an important driver of economic growth
Lack of entrepreneurial zeal and know-how: Given the challenges that entrepreneurs face as startups, you can easily be discouraged and be tempted to give up. Therefore it is best and advised to do a breakeven analysis.
Geographical location puts some at a competitive disadvantage. The internet has mitigated this.
High inflation coupled with exchange rate fluctuations: The economy and the political environment play a vital role in how well a startup will strive. The recent economic downturns have made venture capital a little more difficult, especially when it is international. It would take ₦36,000,000 to repay $100,000 in 2019. That same investment will cost you roughly ₦65,800,000 to repay today.
What Investors and Lenders Look Out for
Whoever gives you money will need to be sure that you will use the money effectively and generate a proper return soon. To mitigate loss and challenge their funds properly, investors and lenders have core features in a start-up company that they look out for. They include:
Potential growth in the market
Competition
Location
Strength and weaknesses
Opportunities and threats
Business revenue either globally or locally
Cash flow
Amount invested by you
Outstanding debt
Credit history
The lender will look for the 5Cs of lending. They are:
Character: this is about your credit history, which summarises the loans you took in the past, how you used them, and the frequency of your repayments.
Capacity: What’s your plan for repayment? How can you afford it?
Capital: This could be your savings, investment, or loan that you will put towards your loan
Collateral: Sometimes, when your credit history is not so good or unascertainable, lenders will ask for some form of security for the loan. A valuable property or another steady source of income usually suffices.
Conditions: They will scrutinise your plan for the money and how you intend to implement it. Other factors, such as economic and environmental conditions, will also play a significant role in their decision.
Key Takeaways
Have a workable business plan
Get your business registered
Open a corporate account and use it
Organise your financial records
Join a business community and build your network
Be open to advisory services
Be social and information-driven. You can’t afford to wait for information to come to you first. You can always reach out to people. You can also use the internet to find low-cost loan facilities.
Use social media to your advantage.
Be clear on the amount of funding you require. Don’t take more or less than you need.
I hope we answered most of your questions in this article. If you have any clarifications or questions, we are happy to help. Book a time with one of our experts to get a free audit.
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