The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a new entrepreneurship programme targeting more than 100,000 young Nigerians every year.
The Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) project was unveiled as part of SMEDAN’s activities to mark International Youth Day 2026.
The initiative is designed to support young entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey, from developing an idea to expanding an established enterprise.
According to SMEDAN, BRYNE will combine enterprise training, incubation, mentorship, access to finance, market opportunities and business development support through physical and digital platforms.
SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, said the programme was created to bring different forms of support together for young Nigerians.
“Across the country, we meet young people with ideas, skills and businesses that can grow, but many still struggle to find the right support at the right time. BRYNE brings several of those opportunities together, from training and incubation to finance, markets and mentorship,” Odii said.
“We want more young Nigerians to have a fair chance to build businesses that can survive, grow and create jobs.”
The programme will operate both physically and online, with interventions planned for communities, tertiary institutions and digital platforms.
SMEDAN said 600 young entrepreneurs will participate in its incubation programme each year, focusing on areas including fashion, woodwork and agriculture.
The agency will also collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education to take enterprise support to tertiary institutions. Student entrepreneurs will have access to business workshops, advisory services, networking opportunities and platforms to showcase their businesses.
According to SMEDAN, participating campuses could have up to 3,000 beneficiaries.
Through BRYNE Digital Connect, young business owners will also gain access to entrepreneurship education and opportunities to reach customers and markets beyond their immediate communities.
Another component of the programme is a weekly startup hackathon expected to engage 5,000 young entrepreneurs.
SMEDAN said 52 winners will emerge from the hackathons, with each receiving ₦250,000 in seed funding.
Bimpe Fawale, deputy director and head of SMEDAN’s Women and Youth Unit, said the programme recognises that young entrepreneurs need different forms of support depending on the stage of their businesses.
“Some need help turning an idea into a business. Others already have businesses but need finance, mentorship, better market access or the right information to take the next step,” Fawale said.
“BRYNE is designed to meet young entrepreneurs at those different stages and connect them to practical support.”
SMEDAN said BRYNE will also connect beneficiaries with opportunities for business formalisation, funding, investment, market access, business information and exports.
The agency expects the programme to help young Nigerians build sustainable businesses, expand existing enterprises and create jobs.
