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UNDP and Mastercard Foundation bootcamp, incubation and grant support for Nigerian innovators aged 18–35 with a working prototype or solution. You must live in one of seven states (Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Taraba) and the Cohort 2 application window closed 18 November 2026.
A UNDP programme, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, that supports young Nigerian innovators aged 18 to 35 with a working solution or prototype. Selected innovators get a bootcamp in their state, incubation, mentorship, grant-based financial support and help reaching markets and investors. Cohort 2 opened on 1 September 2026 for seven states (Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Taraba) and has closed. The next cohort is expected to open on the same website; save this listing to be reminded.
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Aged 18 to 35 when applying
Lives in one of the states covered by the current cohort
Has an innovation, prototype or working sample that solves a real problem in their state
Any sector (agriculture, climate, health, education, manufacturing, digital, finance, energy, creative and others)
Women, persons with disabilities and rural innovators are especially encouraged
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Applications are reviewed against your problem statement, business model, proof of concept, scalability, job creation potential, lived experience of the problem, willingness to co-create, and community impact. Shortlisted applicants attend an intensive in-state bootcamp to refine their problem definition, business model and pitch. After bootcamp, selected ventures move into incubation (November 2026 to January 2027) for hands-on support, mentorship and resources to build for real customers. Graduating ventures then access market connections, capital introductions and partners to scale.
What reviewers look for
No. Cohort 2 applications closed on 18 November 2026. Save the programme listing to be notified when Cohort 3 opens.
No. Cohort 2 is open only to residents of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Taraba. Lagos was part of Cohort 1 (2023–2025) but is not included in Cohort 2.
No. The sources do not require you to be formally registered. You need a working innovation or prototype that solves a real problem.
The programme provides 'grant-based financial support' but the exact amount is not stated in the public information. This will be clarified during bootcamp or incubation.
Graduating ventures move into the Market Access stage, where you connect with markets, investors and partners to scale your solution beyond your state.
Guide written from the official programme page on 1 November 2026. Funders change their rules, so confirm the details on the official page before you apply.
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