BOI × MTN Foundation Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund for Women Entrepreneurs (2026)

he Bank of Industry (BOI) and MTN Foundation officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 13, 2026, to establish the N1 Billion Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund. This initiative is specifically designed to provide credit, capacity building, and mentorship to women-led micro-enterprises in Nigeria

This isn’t just a grant; it is a movement to move women from the “base of the pyramid” to the top of the industrial chain.

About Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund

The Y’ellopreneur 3.0 Matching Fund is a N1 Billion collaborative initiative designed to bridge the financing gap for women-led micro and small enterprises. Unlike traditional loans that demand heavy collateral and long financial histories, this matching fund operates as a pilot to reach viable businesses that have historically been excluded from formal credit.

The program blends capacity building, business development, and direct financing. It follows a structured “train-to-fund” model where 1,000 women are first equipped with the skills to manage growth before competing for the capital to fuel it.

Who Is It For?

This program is specifically designed for the “doers”—women who have already started their journey but need a boost to reach the next level. To be eligible, you must:

• Be a Female Entrepreneur: The business must be owned or led by a woman.
• Have Traction: Your business must have been in operation for at least two years.
• Sector Focus: While broad, priority is given to sectors like Agriculture, Manufacturing, ICT/Digital Services, Processing, Waste Management, and the Circular Economy.
• Local Sourcing: A strong emphasis is placed on businesses that source their raw materials locally.
• Growth Mindset: You must be ready to undergo intensive training to refine your business model.

What You Will Gain

The Y’ellopreneur 3.0 program offers a comprehensive “growth kit” for the selected participants:

• Financial Injection: Access to equipment loans and matching funds (Phase 2 offered up to N3 million; the N1 billion pool in 3.0 aims to reach thousands more).
• The Grant Advantage: In previous phases, entrepreneurs who repaid their equipment loans on time received 25% of the loan value as a non-refundable grant.
• Professional Training: A 4-week intensive training program covering record-keeping, competitiveness, and growth management.
• Mentorship: Direct advisory support from industry veterans and Bank of Industry consultants.
• Credit History: Successful participation builds a formal credit history with BOI, making you eligible for larger institutional loans in the future.

How To Apply

The application window for Phase 3.0 is set to follow a specific timeline following the recent MoU signing.

• Application Link: mtn.ng/yellopreneur or via the Bank of Industry (BOI) portal.
• Deadline: The call for applications is expected to open officially in March 2026.
• Requirement Checklist: Before the portal opens, ensure you have your Business Registration Certificate, a valid ID, and a basic summary of your sales/financial records over the last two years.

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