Web Hub Africa has announced the opening of applications for its Manufacturing Incubation Program, themed Empowering Youth to Drive Africa’s Economic Growth. The initiative follows the organisation’s receipt of the 2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) grant, marking a significant step toward building a new wave of young manufacturers in Nigeria.
The organisation stated that the program is designed to transform the lives of 200 young people and women in Lagos and Uyo by taking them from the idea stage to producing shelf-ready goods for both local and international markets. With access to manufacturing knowledge, regulatory guidance, and product development support, the program aims to grow scalable micro and small enterprises while strengthening the participation of young innovators in Africa’s industrial capacity.
The program will provide hands-on training in manufacturing processes, product formulation, quality control, and branding. Selected participants will receive guidance on regulatory compliance, including NAFDAC requirements, market access strategies for distribution and export, as well as shared access to a co-manufacturing hub to support affordable small-batch production.
Why this matters
Nigeria’s youth population continues to grow, yet many remain excluded from industrial production due to limited access to equipment, funding and practical training. By moving ideas into finished products, the program offers a pathway for new MSMEs to emerge in the manufacturing sector, improving job creation, domestic production output and local value chains. For young entrepreneurs, this is a chance to convert creativity into commercially viable goods with long-term market potential.
Eligibility requirements
Must be a young person or woman with an innovative product idea or early-stage manufacturing business.
Applicants must be residents of or able to participate in training activities in Lagos or Uyo.
Must demonstrate interest in scaling into production for retail or export.
commitment to attend workshops, implement feedback and work toward product readiness.
Benefits for selected participants
Practical manufacturing training and product development support.
Regulatory and compliance guidance for approvals such as NAFDAC.
Shared co-manufacturing space to produce shelf-ready goods.
Market access support for distribution locally and internationally.
Exposure to mentors, industry professionals and potential partners.
