The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched the Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) Project, a new initiative aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship support for young Nigerians seeking to establish, grow or scale businesses.

The project was unveiled on August 14, 2026, as part of activities marking International Youth Day 2026.

SMEDAN said the BRYNE Project is designed to tackle a major challenge faced by young entrepreneurs: inadequate access to suitable business support at different points in their entrepreneurial journey.

Through the initiative, young Nigerians will be connected to entrepreneurship training, incubation, mentorship, financing opportunities, market access, business formalisation, investment and other business development services.

The agency said the project will support young entrepreneurs across different sectors and stages of business development while creating pathways to resources and networks that can strengthen the sustainability and growth of their businesses.

Four components of the BRYNE Project

The BRYNE Project comprises four major components, each designed to provide practical support and financial opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

1. SMEDAN Incubation Programme

Through its incubation component, SMEDAN plans to support 600 young entrepreneurs every year, with particular focus on sectors such as fashion, woodwork and agriculture.

The programme will utilise SMEDAN’s Industrial Development Centres to provide participants with enterprise development support and other resources intended to strengthen their businesses.

The incubation initiative is expected to assist young entrepreneurs in developing business ideas, improving operations and building enterprises capable of sustainable growth.

2. Campus Enterprise Engagement Platform

SMEDAN also plans to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education to bring entrepreneurship support directly to tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The Campus Enterprise Engagement Platform will offer participating students practical business workshops, advisory services, networking opportunities and exhibitions where student-owned businesses can display their products and services.

The initiative is expected to reach as many as 3,000 participants per participating campus, giving students increased exposure to entrepreneurship and business development opportunities while they are still in school.

3. BRYNE Digital Connect

The digital arm of the initiative, BRYNE Digital Connect, will use online platforms to deliver entrepreneurship education and link young business owners to broader opportunities.

The platform is expected to support innovation, youth-led enterprises and grassroots businesses while enabling young entrepreneurs to connect with other business owners and participate in online business communities.

It will also provide access to relevant business information and could help entrepreneurs reach broader markets.

4. Weekly Startup Hackathon

The fourth component is a weekly startup hackathon designed to engage 5,000 young entrepreneurs.

A total of 52 winners are expected to emerge from the programme. Each winner will receive ₦250,000 in seed funding to support their business.

The funding will provide selected entrepreneurs with additional capital to develop their ideas, strengthen existing operations or scale their businesses.

Who can benefit from BRYNE?

The BRYNE Project is intended for young Nigerians at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

Potential beneficiaries include young people with business ideas who require support to turn them into viable enterprises, existing business owners seeking funding or additional business development assistance, and entrepreneurs looking for mentorship as well as access to markets and investors.

The programme will also support young Nigerians seeking assistance with business formalisation, access to business information and opportunities to explore local and international markets.

Through SMEDAN and its partners, participants may gain access to mentorship, investors, funding opportunities, markets, formalisation services and export-related opportunities.

Application portal yet to be announced

Although the BRYNE Project has been launched, SMEDAN has not announced a general application deadline or dedicated application portal for the programme.

Young Nigerians interested in participating have therefore been advised to exercise caution and avoid unofficial websites, individuals or platforms that request payment in exchange for access to BRYNE opportunities.

Applicants are expected to rely on official SMEDAN communication channels for information about application windows, eligibility requirements and registration procedures.

The launch comes as young Nigerians continue to seek greater access to finance, skills, markets and business development support, particularly amid rising operating costs and a challenging business environment.

With its focus on incubation, campus entrepreneurship, digital engagement and seed funding, the BRYNE Project is expected to create additional opportunities for young Nigerians seeking to establish and strengthen businesses across the country.

Source: MSME Africa Online