The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a major initiative designed to empower over 100,000 young entrepreneurs across the country every year. Unveiled as part of activities marking International Youth Day 2026, the project titled Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) delivers targeted support tailored to the specific needs and growth stages of emerging businesses, ranging from early-stage ideas to established enterprises looking to expand.
The comprehensive programme combines enterprise training, business incubation, hands-on mentorship, funding, market access, and ongoing growth support delivered across both physical and digital channels. Under the scheme, 600 young business owners will participate annually in intensive incubation programs focusing on high-impact sectors such as agriculture, fashion, and woodwork. Additionally, SMEDAN is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education to set up campus enterprise hubs across tertiary institutions. These hubs will offer business development workshops, networking opportunities, and trade exhibitions directly to student entrepreneurs, benefiting up to 3,000 participants per campus.
To further encourage innovation, the initiative includes a weekly startup hackathon designed to engage 5,000 young entrepreneurs each year, with 52 selected winners receiving N250,000 each in seed grant funding. Meanwhile, the BRYNE Digital Connect portal will provide flexible online business education and connect young founders to customers well beyond their local communities.
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According to SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii, BRYNE aims to bridge the gap for skilled young Nigerians who struggle to find timely guidance, giving them a fair opportunity to build sustainable businesses that generate jobs. Bimpe Fawale, head of SMEDAN’s Women and Youth Unit, emphasized that the initiative’s stage-by-stage design ensures founders receive the exact assistance required at their point of need whether that involves refining an initial idea, formalizing operations, or securing financial backing for broader market expansion.
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