The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is inviting young Nigerians to develop businesses around challenges in the maritime sector through its Blue Economy Accelerator Programme.

Applications are scheduled to open on Monday, October 5, with the initiative combining a national innovation hackathon and a 12-week accelerator designed to help selected ideas develop into businesses and connect with potential investors and industry partners.

NIMASA’s announcement targets innovators aged 18–28, with November 13 set as the application deadline.

Applications will undergo evaluation from November 16 to December 2. The National Innovation Hackathon is scheduled for December 8–10, while the accelerator is expected to run in the first quarter of 2027.

A National Demo Day is planned for the second quarter of 2027, when participating ventures will present their businesses to investors and prospective partners.

These are planned programme stages and should not be interpreted as completed activities or confirmed investment commitments.

The programme focuses on solutions relevant to Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, covering economic activities linked to the country’s waters and maritime resources.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate more than an interesting technology or concept. A strong proposal should identify the problem being addressed, the people or organisations affected and how the proposed solution can work in practice.

Evidence from potential users could also strengthen an application compared with unsupported claims about market size.

What applicants should check

The programme portal is listed as nbeap.nimasa.gov.ng. However, the application form and submission process could not be independently verified during the early-morning check.

As a result, the October 5 opening date should not be treated as confirmation that applications are already being accepted.

Prospective applicants should confirm the final eligibility requirements and participation terms when the portal becomes accessible.

NIMASA’s announcement does not state a guaranteed grant amount or confirm that every selected business will receive investment.

For applicants, the immediate opportunity is to develop a maritime or blue economy business idea with industry involvement and work towards presenting it to investors. Founders should be prepared to explain who needs their solution, what it will cost to deliver and how the business will generate revenue.

Source: The Will News