The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), has partnered with Cascador to launch a new founders programme aimed at equipping young Nigerian entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to build investment-ready businesses.
Under the NiYA × Cascador Founders Programme, selected early-stage youth founders will undergo an intensive four-week training covering business fundamentals, investment readiness, pitch preparation and one-on-one mentorship.
Top-performing participants will receive up to N5 million each in non-dilutive funding from Cascador, alongside access to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution designed to help them structure, manage and scale their businesses.
The partnership followed engagements between the Ministry and Cascador, including a follow-up meeting hosted on April 29, during which both sides explored ways of aligning Cascador’s experience in supporting Nigerian entrepreneurs with the Federal Government’s youth development agenda.
The Ministry said the initiative reflects its focus on translating partnerships and engagements into practical opportunities for young Nigerians.
The programme also seeks to strengthen the link between entrepreneurship training and sustainable enterprise development by combining capacity building, mentorship, investment readiness and access to funding.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development said the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of NiYA to equip young Nigerians with knowledge and opportunities that can support enterprise creation, growth and economic participation.
Applications for the programme open on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, through the NiYA website, niya.gov.ng.