NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme: How to Apply
The application portal for the NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme is live, and unlike a lot of government-linked funding announcements, this one comes with a direct, working link rather than a vague promise to "watch this space." If you're a young Nigerian founder weighing whether to apply, here's what the programme actually asks of you, who qualifies, and the exact steps to get your application in.
What you're actually applying for
Before the eligibility details, it helps to know what winning looks like, because it isn't a straightforward cash disbursement to everyone who submits a form.
The NiYA x Cascador Founders Programme is a pilot cohort of 20 early-stage founders. All 20 go through an intensive four-week curriculum covering business fundamentals, investment readiness, and pitch preparation, delivered primarily in Abuja with virtual sessions and one-on-one mentorship layered in. At the end of the four weeks, the eight highest-performing founders in the cohort receive up to ₦5 million each in non-dilutive funding from Cascador, meaning no equity changes hands. Those top eight also get an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to help them run the business afterward.
The remaining participants aren't left empty-handed either. Everyone who completes the programme keeps NiYA alumni status, with priority consideration for future NiYA opportunities. So the realistic way to think about this is: you're applying for a place in a competitive four-week accelerator, not for a guaranteed grant. The ₦5 million goes to the founders who perform best during the programme itself, decided at a closing Pitch Day in front of a judging panel.
Who's eligible
The programme's defining feature is who it lets in. Most Nigerian grant and accelerator programmes quietly screen out founders without a registered business or a financial track record. This one explicitly does the opposite: founders without formal business registration or established financial records are not disqualified. That's a deliberate design choice by NiYA and Cascador to reach earlier-stage entrepreneurs than typical funding criteria allow.
Based on what NiYA, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), and Cascador have confirmed publicly, applicants should be prepared to speak to:
- A real business idea or an existing early-stage venture, not just an interest in entrepreneurship
- Their specific reason for applying and what they hope to get out of the programme
- Their genuine availability for a four-week commitment based primarily in Abuja, since the core training is delivered in person
NiYA's broader platform serves young Nigerians aged 18 to 35, which gives a useful general sense of the age range this programme is likely drawing from, though the Founders Programme's own eligibility criteria, defined jointly with Cascador, are what governs actual selection. Because this is a newly launched pilot, treat the application portal itself as the final word on requirements rather than any single news report, this guide included, and check it directly before you submit.
How to apply, step by step
1. Go to the official application portal. Apply directly at startup.niya.gov.ng/fmyd/grants, the dedicated NiYA StartUp grants page for this programme. This is the only application route confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. Federal youth funding announcements have historically attracted impersonation attempts on social media, so avoid any third-party link, WhatsApp forward, or "agent" offering to submit on your behalf, and don't pay anyone to apply for you. Applying is free.
2. Read the full eligibility and submission requirements on the portal before you start. Since exact form fields and any supporting documents required can be adjusted after a pilot programme launches based on applicant volume, don't rely solely on secondhand summaries, including this one. Confirm the live requirements on the portal itself first.
3. Prepare your business summary in advance. Before you open the form, write out, in plain language, what your business does, the problem it solves, and why now. If you don't yet have a registered business, describe the venture as it currently exists rather than waiting until you're "further along." The programme was built for exactly that stage.
4. Be ready to explain your commitment to the four-week schedule. Because delivery is primarily in-person in Abuja, have a clear, honest answer ready for how you'll manage attendance for the full four weeks. Vague availability is one of the more common reasons founders get filtered out of accelerator-style programmes at the review stage.
5. Submit through the portal and keep a copy of your submission. Save a copy of everything you submit, including any confirmation email or reference number, in case you need to follow up.
6. Watch for a response and keep your contact details current. With a pilot cohort of just 20 places, communication after submission may move quickly. Check the email and phone number you applied with regularly, and keep the NiYA portal itself as your primary source for any update on timelines.
Strengthen your application before you submit
Getting into the portal is the easy part. Writing an application strong enough to make the cut for one of 20 spots, and then performing well enough during the programme to land in the top eight, is where most of the real work happens. Our guide on how to apply for and actually win grants in Nigeria breaks down what separates winning applications from the much larger pile that doesn't, drawn from how Microsoft, Apple, the UN, and Nigeria's own grant winners actually evaluate submissions. Two points from it are especially relevant here: show that you're already doing something with your idea rather than just describing an intention, and know your numbers well enough to explain exactly what ₦5 million would let you build.
A professional online presence can also work in your favour, even where it isn't a listed requirement. Evaluators respond well to seeing real business activity rather than a pitch on paper alone. A Siiqo storefront showing actual transaction history and customer activity is one straightforward way to demonstrate that traction before you ever sit in front of a judging panel.
What's still unconfirmed
This is a newly launched pilot, and a few details weren't public at the time of writing: the exact application deadline, the full list of required documents, and whether a hard age cutoff applies specifically to this programme rather than to NiYA generally. Confirm all of these directly on the application portal before you submit, since pilot programmes like this one sometimes adjust submission windows after launch based on volume.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a registered business (CAC) to apply? No. The programme explicitly welcomes founders without formal business registration or an established financial track record. That said, if you can register affordably before you apply, it can still strengthen how reviewers read your application, and it's worth doing eventually regardless of this specific programme.
Is the ₦5 million guaranteed if I'm accepted into the cohort? No. Only the eight highest-performing founders out of the 20-person cohort receive funding, decided after the four-week programme and a closing Pitch Day. All 20 participants who complete the programme do retain NiYA alumni status and priority consideration for future opportunities.
Where exactly do I apply? Only through the official NiYA StartUp portal at startup.niya.gov.ng/fmyd/grants, accessible via niya.gov.ng. Don't apply through any other link, including ones shared on social media or WhatsApp.
Is there a fee to apply? No. Applying through the official portal is free. Treat any request for payment tied to this programme as a red flag.
What happens if I'm not one of the eight funded founders? You still complete the four-week training, keep NiYA alumni status, and get priority consideration for future NiYA-linked opportunities, which the Ministry has said forms part of a much larger plan to train and empower seven million Nigerian youths over two years.
Before you apply
If you're building or already running a business, whether or not it's formally registered yet, having somewhere real to show it matters, in this application and beyond it. Explore Siiqo's grants hub for more currently open funding opportunities for Nigerian founders, and set up a free storefront to start showing real activity behind your pitch.
