List of Available Grants in Nigeria: Top 20 Agencies

1. The SME Mall – Women in Business Grant Competition (WIBGC)

The SME Mall’s Women in Business Grant Competition (WIBGC) runs regular competitions supporting women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. Having successfully empowered over 2,000 women entrepreneurs, the program provides grants, comprehensive training, and mentorship across diverse industries including technology, agriculture, healthcare, fashion, and education.

Grant Amount: ₦300,000 – ₦1,000,000 for winners
Target: Women entrepreneurs across all sectors
Special Features: Training, mentorship, and business resources
Get Updates: Join The SME Mall Business Grant Community for application notifications and opportunities

2. Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)

The Tony Elumelu Foundation opened applications for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes in January 2025, with each selected entrepreneur receiving $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital. The program also includes business training, mentorship, and access to global networks.

Grant Amount: $5,000 per entrepreneur
Application: Apply at TEF Website

3. Bank of Industry (BOI)

BOI provides various funding schemes for MSMEs across different sectors. Their programs include manufacturing, agriculture, and technology-focused grants. The bank offers both direct funding and partnerships with other financial institutions.

Focus Areas: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Technology
Application: Visit BOI offices nationwide or their website

4. SARA by Wema Bank

SARA by Wema is Wema Bank’s dedicated proposition for women, designed to provide financial access, business advisory, personal development tools, and wellness support for women at various stages of life and enterprise. Wema Bank is set to give out ₦2 million business grants to women looking for cash flow to build or grow their business on Friday, July 18, 2025, at The SheCan Conference 6.0.

Grant Amount: ₦2 Million
Target: Women entrepreneurs and female-led businesses
Event: SheCan Conference 2025
More Info: Check their Instagram announcement

Additionally, SARA by Wema, in collaboration with Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), and MasterCard Foundation, offers the Transforming Nigerian Youths Program with grant awards of up to ₦5,000,000 to kickstart or scale business ventures.

5. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)

SMEDAN offers placement opportunities to grow businesses and strengthen workforce, plus single-digit interest loans through their ₦5B MSME Fund. They also provide free cyber security tools for businesses.

Services: Business training, funding, cyber security support
Application: Visit SMEDAN Website

6. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Intervention Funds

CBN operates several intervention funds targeting different sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, and creative industries. These programs offer low-interest loans and grants to qualified MSMEs.

Focus Areas: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Creative Industries
Application: Through participating banks

7. Nigeria Youth Futures Fund

This program targets young entrepreneurs aged 18-35, providing grants and business support for innovative ventures. The fund emphasizes job creation and economic empowerment for Nigerian youth.

Target Group: Youth entrepreneurs (18-35 years)
Focus: Job creation, innovation

8. Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme

The federal government’s flagship program provides conditional grants to MSMEs across Nigeria. The scheme focuses on businesses that can create jobs and contribute to economic growth.

Grant Amount: Varies by business size
Requirement: Job creation commitment

9. Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF)

LSETF runs the MSME Bootcamp program, providing training and funding opportunities for Lagos-based businesses. They offer grants ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million.

Location: Lagos State
Grant Range: ₦500,000 – ₦5 million

10. Mastercard Foundation Programs

The Foundation operates several programs in Nigeria, including the FAST Programme and various agricultural initiatives. They focus on financial inclusion and youth empowerment.

Focus: Financial inclusion, agriculture, youth empowerment
Coverage: Pan-African with Nigeria focus

11. Google for Startups Accelerator Africa

Google’s program supports African startups with funding, mentorship, and technical support. They focus on technology-driven businesses with scalable solutions.

Program Duration: 3 months
Benefits: Funding, mentorship, technical support

12. Africa’s Business Heroes Competition

This annual competition by Alibaba founder Jack Ma provides grants to African entrepreneurs. Winners receive funding and mentorship to scale their businesses.

Grant Amount: Up to $1 million for winners
Application: Annual competition

13. Flourish Africa Grant

Focused on financial inclusion and economic empowerment, this grant supports businesses that improve financial services access in Nigeria and across Africa.

Focus: Financial inclusion, economic empowerment
Target: Fintech and financial services

14. AGSMEIS by NIRSAL Microfinance Bank

The Agri-business/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme provides funding for agriculture and small business ventures. They offer competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms.

Focus: Agriculture, small enterprises
Features: Flexible repayment, competitive rates

15. Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)

NCDMB provides grants and support for businesses in the oil and gas sector, focusing on local content development and capacity building.

Sector: Oil and gas
Focus: Local content development

16. Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI)

FMSTI supports technology and innovation-driven businesses through various grant programs. They focus on startups developing solutions in science and technology.

Focus: Science, technology, innovation
Target: Tech startups and innovators

17. Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI)

FMITI operates several programs supporting MSMEs across different sectors. They provide grants, training, and market access support.

Services: Grants, training, market access
Coverage: Multiple sectors

18. Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN)

DBN helps MSMEs access business funding through partner banks across Nigeria. They focus on wholesale funding to financial institutions that lend to MSMEs.

Model: Wholesale funding through partner banks
Focus: MSME financing

19. Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI)

NASSI rolled out funding opportunities for small and medium scale enterprises across the 36 states in Nigeria, sponsored by SME Scale-Up and Seven-up bottling company.

Coverage: All 36 states
Sponsors: SME Scale-Up and Seven-up bottling company

20. U.S. Embassy Nigeria Grant Programs

The U.S. Embassy offers various grant programs including the Abuja Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement with maximum awards of $50,000.

Grant Amount: Up to $50,000
Focus: Public diplomacy and development programs

How to Apply for These Grants

Most agencies require similar documentation:

Basic Requirements:

• Business registration certificate

• Tax clearance certificate

• Bank statements

• Business plan

• Financial projections

Application Tips:

• Start early and read all requirements carefully

• Prepare all documents in advance

• Write a compelling business plan

• Show clear financial projections

• Demonstrate job creation potential

Current Trends in Nigerian Grant Programs

Nigeria offers an abundance of funding opportunities for registered businesses, from seed funding for start-ups to grants for scaling operations. The focus has shifted toward businesses that create jobs, use technology, and solve local problems.

Many programs now emphasize:

• Digital innovation

• Youth empowerment

• Agricultural development

• Financial inclusion

• Job creation

Final Thoughts

This list of available grants in Nigeria provides multiple opportunities for MSME growth. The key is matching your business with the right grant program and preparing a strong application. These free grants in Nigeria can transform your business when properly accessed and utilized.

Remember to check application deadlines, as many programs have specific windows. Start your application process early and consider applying to multiple programs to increase your chances of success.

Note: Grant availability and requirements may change. Always verify current information on official websites before applying.