In a landmark move to empower Nigeria’s young innovators, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD) announced that 17 startups, selected through the NiYA StartUp Pitch competition, will each receive grants of ₦1 million.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Ayodele Olawande, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the skills, tools, and networks needed to thrive in an innovation-driven economy. He described the initiative as more than a competition but a platform for transforming creativity into sustainable impact.
The NiYA initiative, launched under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is designed to build a holistic ecosystem for youth development through learning, training, and enterprise creation. “Through NiYA Gigs, NiYA Jobs, NiYA Academy, and now NiYA StartUp, we are creating a complete ecosystem that supports youth from learning to earning,” Dr. Olawande stated.
In addition to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, key partners in the initiative include the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), SuperTeam Nigeria, and Sapphital. The Group CEO of Sapphital, Amu Ogbeide, commended the inclusive and transparent platform NiYA has created, emphasizing the importance of public-private collaboration in scaling youth-led enterprises.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, revealed that approximately ₦25 million was allocated for the competition, with each of the 17 winning startups receiving ₦1 million. The supported startups span diverse sectors such as technology, logistics, digital services, and lifestyle innovation — all with strong potential for scalability and employment generation.
The NiYA StartUp Pitch 1.0 forms part of the “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative, which aims to ensure every Nigerian youth acquires at least two marketable skills to enhance employability, foster entrepreneurship, and promote financial independence. The Honourable Minister highlighted that young Nigerians are not just potential job seekers but can become job creators when provided with the right support and environment.
To the 17 award-winning startups and the thousands of applicants nationwide, this milestone marks the beginning of a new era of youth-led innovation — powered by purpose, driven by creativity, and supported by national collaboration.
