Every month we round up the grants, accelerators, fellowships, and competitions currently open to Nigerian and African entrepreneurs, from government schemes to international funders. Each listing below has the deadline, what you get, and where to apply, so you can move straight to the ones worth your time.
UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026
Description: UNICEF Venture Fund is looking for startups building frontier technology for girls’ and women’s health. Companies registered in UNICEF programme countries, Nigeria included, can apply.
Key Benefits: Up to US$100,000, 12 months of technical mentorship and a seat in UNICEF’s global network.
Application Deadline: 4 November 2026, 11:59 PM CET
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Prince Casper Foundation Impact Grants 2026-2027
Description: Grants for educators and education professionals working in primary and secondary schools in rural and underserved Nigerian communities, to improve teaching and learning.
Key Benefits: ₦6 million shared among 26 grantees: ₦500,000, ₦200,000 or ₦100,000 each, decided by the selection committee.
Application Deadline: 6 November 2026, 11:59 pm WAT
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
MIT Solve 2027 Global Health Challenge
Description: MIT Solve is looking for technology-driven solutions that improve health outcomes. Innovators from anywhere in the world can submit, and Nigerian teams are not excluded.
Key Benefits: US$10,000 Solver Award plus a nine-month support programme.
Application Deadline: 6 November 2026, 12:00 noon US Eastern Time
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Swarovski Foundation Creatives For Our Future 2026
Description: A grant for Nigerian creatives aged 21 to 30 building something around sustainability, fashion, design, or technology.
Key Benefits: €20,000 grant plus mentorship, masterclasses, and networking access.
Application Deadline: 9 November 2026, 11:59 PM GMT
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Anzisha Venture Building Fellowship 2027
Description: A fellowship from the African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation for young African founders aged 15 to 22 who are already running a real business.
Key Benefits: Milestone-based cash stipends, coaching, and a share of $40,000 in prizes.
Application Deadline: 10 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Open Arts Fund 2026
Description: Open Arts is supporting Nigerian creatives and arts organisations whose work strengthens the Northern Nigeria creative scene.
Key Benefits: Unrestricted grants of up to ₦500,000.
Application Deadline: 10 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Interledger Local Impact Mini-Grant Program 2026
Description: A grant from the Interledger Foundation for individuals and community organisations working to improve digital financial access, no registered organisation required.
Key Benefits: $500 to $3,000 in direct project funding.
Application Deadline: 11 November 2026, 11:59 pm ET (applications reviewed on a rolling basis until then)
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Young Africa Innovates Programme Cohort 2
Description: UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation are supporting young Nigerian innovators aged 18 to 35 in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Taraba. No registered business is needed.
Key Benefits: Bootcamp training, incubation, mentorship, market access and exposure to grant funding.
Application Deadline: 18 November 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Ogun Digital Summit 2026 Hackathon
Description: Nigerian innovators form teams of two to five and compete at the Ogun Digital Summit hackathon in Abeokuta. Open to developers, designers and problem-solvers.
Key Benefits: Share of ₦5 million in prizes, exposure to Ogun State stakeholders and the tech ecosystem.
Application Deadline: Hackathon holds 25 November 2026. Registration is open, no closing date published.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
AI Venture Lab Founder Sprint 2027
Description: A free 10-week virtual programme (27 January to 2 April 2027) teaching early-stage founders worldwide to build, test and scale startups with AI. No fees and no equity taken.
Key Benefits: No cash upfront. Mentorship, peer group, masterclasses and a Demo Day with non-dilutive prize money.
Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program Cohort 8
Description: A free nine-month accelerator for up to 10 revenue-generating Blue Economy startups across Africa, including Nigeria. No equity is taken.
Key Benefits: Weekly coaching, investor-readiness support, technical help and access to follow-on capital.
Application Deadline: 6 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
African Energy Entrepreneurship Awards 2026
Description: Octopus Energy Generation is backing technology startups in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria included, that improve access to clean and reliable electricity.
Key Benefits: Share of US$100,000 in non-dilutive capital, plus mentorship.
Application Deadline: 11 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Learnstar Startup Challenge 2027
Description: Five founders pitch live in Lagos at the Learnstar Creative Summit 2027 for a cash prize.
Key Benefits: ₦1.5 million prize and exposure to investors and the creative economy.
Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Mozilla Foundation Fellowship 2027-2028
Description: Mozilla is funding 10 fellows over 12 months to build a more trustworthy internet. Nigerians can apply.
Key Benefits: Up to $125,000 per fellow over 12 months, plus community and support.
Application Deadline: 17 December 2026 (Letter of Intent)
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
UNDP Timbuktoo Pan-African Incubation Program (EdTech) 2026
Description: A UNDP Timbuktoo programme supporting African EdTech startups building innovative solutions for education, training, and skills development, with structured incubation and mentorship.
Key Benefits: Access to the SIGMA digital platform for startup development, plus investment readiness training and investor networking.
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
UNDP Africa Timbuktoo Launchpad Program 2026
Description: A UNDP programme through the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub in Kenya, supporting African founders building clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, waste management, and circular economy solutions.
Key Benefits: Practical incubation, expert guidance, digital tools, and ecosystem access.
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
DIV Fund for Startups and Social Enterprises 2026
Description: Funding for startups, nonprofits, researchers, and social enterprises with innovative solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, or financial inclusion.
Key Benefits: Up to $1.5 million in grants.
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis)
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SiGMA Pitch Startup Competition 2027
Description: A free pitch competition for early-stage African startups in iGaming, fintech, AI, blockchain and gaming technology, culminating in a live pitch before more than 30 venture capitalists in Cape Town.
Key Benefits: A prize package worth over €400,000 in credits, cloud infrastructure and executive access for the winner. Free to apply.
Application Deadline: 6 January 2027
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Federal Government Free Microsoft AI Skills for Nigerian Women 2026
Description: Free artificial intelligence training and certification for women across Nigeria, from small business owners to students and office workers.
Key Benefits: Free training with certification.
Application Deadline: Rolling, until training slots are filled
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SMEDAN Young Entrepreneurs Program (BRYNE) 2026
Description: A new SMEDAN-led initiative bringing training, incubation, mentorship and access to finance together for young Nigerian entrepreneurs, including a weekly startup hackathon.
Key Benefits: Incubation support for 600 entrepreneurs annually, plus a weekly hackathon awarding 52 winners ₦250,000 each in seed funding.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no single application deadline published yet. Watch the official SMEDAN website.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
SMEDAN Cluster Development Support (CDS) for MSMEs 2026
Description: Support for Nigerian manufacturing and production clusters, tackling bottlenecks like poor electricity, lack of automated machinery, and financing access.
Key Benefits: Cluster infrastructure and financing support.
Application Deadline: Rolling, regional basis
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship Program 2026
Description: A global initiative providing free business education to women entrepreneurs worldwide, offering 10 core business courses covering leadership, marketing, finance, and other essentials for growing sustainable enterprises.
Key Benefits: Free access to world-class business education, plus membership in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Global Alumni Community.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no fixed deadline
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Maple Global Innovation Fellowship 2026
Description: A fellowship for entrepreneurs, researchers, AI and robotics professionals, and innovation ecosystem leaders, with a strictly limited number of appointments.
Key Benefits: Fellowship recognition, mentorship, and access to a global innovation network.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no closing date published. Applications are reviewed individually and only a limited number of Fellows are appointed.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
FG CREDICORP C.L.I.C.K.D. Programme 2026
Description: A federal government credit scheme (C.L.I.C.K.D.) that lets eligible Nigerians get a laptop or smartphone on instalments. The pilot phase started with 1,000 laptops for 3MTT fellows, with other digital talent programmes expected to follow.
Key Benefits: Access to subsidised devices through a government-backed credit scheme.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no closing date published. Check the official portal for current status and terms.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Agriculture Financing Initiative (AgriFI)
Description: A long-term capital facility for commercially sustainable agribusinesses across Africa’s agricultural value chains, funded by the EU and managed by EDFI.
Key Benefits: Investments from €500,000 to €5 million, with tenors of five to ten years or more.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no fixed application round
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
TBH MSME Pitch-A-Ton 1.0
Description: The Business Hub is running a pitch programme that gives Nigerian MSMEs a mix of grant and loan support.
Key Benefits: Up to ₦10 million in hybrid grant and loan support, with discounted loans for up to 50 finalists.
Application Deadline: No closing date published. Check the official portal for the current application window.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
FemNest 2.0 by Heels and Tech
Description: A free five-week virtual incubator for Nigerian women innovators solving women and family health problems, ending with a Lagos Demo Day.
Key Benefits: Free incubation and mentorship, plus possible milestone-based funding for top ventures.
Application Deadline: No closing date published. Check the official portal for the current status.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
RICH Hub African Climate AI Innovators 2026
Description: RICH Hub is inviting African climate innovators using AI and data to submit expressions of interest for support and scaling grants.
Key Benefits: Potential scaling grants of up to US$200,000.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no closing date published. Check the official form for current status.
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Fund for Innovation in Development (FID) Grants 2026
Description: Grants for organisations testing and scaling innovations that reduce poverty and inequality, with projects in eligible countries including Nigeria.
Key Benefits: €200,000 to €4 million depending on stage.
Application Deadline: Rolling, no fixed deadline
Where to Apply: Click here to learn more
Found one worth chasing? Let me help you win it.
Spotting the opportunity is the easy part. Most applications fail on weak plans, shaky numbers, and a pitch that does not convince. That is the part I fix.
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Grant and Funding Readiness Programme. I get your documents, financials, and pitch in shape so you apply with confidence, not guesswork, and stand out to the people writing the cheques. Message me on WhatsApp to join.
Also available: pitch decks, financial models, company profiles, business proposals, and CAC registration.
Let’s talk before the deadline, not after.
Utibe Etim
Founder, Etimate Global Services
WhatsApp / Call: 0703 154 2324
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.utibeetim.com
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