By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), has announced a strategic partnership with Cascador, a Nigeria-focused platform for growth-stage founders, aimed at boosting opportunities for young Nigerian entrepreneurs to build investment-ready businesses and access vital capital.
The partnership was unveiled as part of the 2026 International Youth Day celebrations, themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” It seeks to create a robust pathway for young Nigerians to transition from skills acquisition and business ideas to sustainable enterprises capable of attracting investment and driving economic growth.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, emphasized that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to youth empowerment beyond mere training. “For NiYA, training is only one part of the journey. The real value lies in helping young people move from learning to enterprise, from ideas to investable businesses, and from potential to sustainable economic participation,” he said.
The NiYA and Cascador Founders Programme will pilot with 20 early-stage youth founders, including entrepreneurs without formal business registration or financial history. Over an intensive four-week period, participants will receive comprehensive training in business fundamentals, investment readiness, and pitch preparation, supported by virtual engagements and personalized mentorship.
At the programme’s conclusion, the eight top-performing founders will each be awarded up to ₦5 million in non-dilutive funding from Cascador, along with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to help them manage and scale their businesses effectively. The programme will culminate in a Pitch Day, where participants will present their ventures before a panel of judges.
Minister Olawande highlighted the pilot’s significance as a step toward NiYA’s ambitious goal of training and empowering seven million Nigerian youths within two years. “If young founders can be identified early, prepared properly, connected to credible capital, and supported to build stronger business systems, access to opportunity becomes less dependent on background or existing networks,” he explained.
Under the partnership, FMYD and NiYA will manage participant sourcing, training, and daily programme delivery, while Cascador will develop eligibility criteria, oversee investment-readiness preparation, judge pitches, and provide funding for the top performers.
Cascador CEO, Trish Thomas praised the collaboration as a vital bridge between ideation and capital access. “NiYA and FMYD have demonstrated real commitment to Nigeria’s youth. What we’re building together is the missing piece — a practical bridge from ideas to capital readiness,” she said.
Cascador Chief Operating Officer, Oyin Solebo described the partnership as an innovative model for capital deployment. “A government building investment readiness at scale, paired with a partner providing non-dilutive funding at the right moment — this opens doors neither could open alone,” she noted.
The pilot programme will be delivered in person in Abuja, supplemented by virtual sessions and one-on-one mentorship. All participants who complete the programme will gain NiYA alumni status and priority consideration for future NiYA initiatives.
Applications will open on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. Interested young Nigerian entrepreneurs can visit www.niya.gov.ng for eligibility criteria and application details.
