The Centre for Research in Enterprise and Action in Management (CREM) has commenced applications for the fifth edition of its Grooming Endowment Trust Grant Programme (GETGP), with 15 small and medium-sized enterprises expected to share N13 million in grant funding.

The programme combines financial assistance with business skills and other resources intended to help Nigerian start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) strengthen their operations and better navigate the business environment.

Speaking during the formal launch of the application call in Lagos, Project Manager, GET Compass, Kenechukwu Ohaeri, said the initiative is aimed at giving early-stage businesses the resources needed to grow and scale.

Applicants, he explained, must be able to show that their businesses are already operational and maintain regular business records. These records are expected to include daily sales reports, monthly sales records and monthly profit and loss statements.

“The primary objective of the grant programme is to provide financial assistance and relevant skills to business owners to scale up and navigate through the business environment,” Ohaeri said.

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

Ohaeri said applicants must be at least 18 years old, while their businesses must have been operating for no more than three years.

Business founders must also be available to attend a two-week workshop in Lagos and must have completed business registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The programme is open to viable businesses operating in areas including health, education, humanitarian services, enterprise and community development, and social entrepreneurship.

Senior Operations Manager, Chike Ugwu, disclosed that 60 beneficiaries had received support during the previous year, while the programme had disbursed N50.5 million to beneficiaries so far.

For the 2026 edition, 15 businesses will share a combined N13 million.

Ugwu also revealed that the programme had attracted more than 24,000 applications over the past four years, highlighting the level of interest among Nigerian businesses seeking financial and capacity-building support.

The application deadline for the 2026 edition is August 20, 2026.

Ugwu expressed confidence that successful applicants would gain substantial value from the programme’s business clinic and training sessions, pointing to the progress achieved by businesses that previously benefited from the initiative.

A member of the Technical Committee, Dr Joseph Mfon, said the significant difference between the number of applications received and the number of businesses eventually selected illustrates the extent of financing and capacity-building needs within Nigeria’s MSME sector.

He urged more corporate organisations to become involved in supporting small businesses, noting that stronger MSMEs would contribute to economic growth.

The GETGP model combines direct grant funding with business development assistance. Beneficiaries receive training intended to improve areas such as financial management, business operations and strategies for sustainable growth.

With applications closing on August 20, 2026, eligible Nigerian businesses are expected to complete and submit their applications before the application window ends.

Source: MSME Africa Online