The Nigerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF) has opened applications for the 2025 Fortune Entrepreneur Accelerator, Summit & Venture Capital Programme in partnership with the National Board for Technology Incubation and the London School of Social Enterprise and Sustainable Economics.
The nationwide initiative targets 1,000 promising Nigerian startups in strategic sectors such as agriculture, energy, fintech, healthcare, manufacturing, the creative industries, and climate innovation. Culminating in a national summit scheduled for September 2025 in Benin City, Edo State, the programme is designed to support entrepreneurs in building scalable ventures that align with Nigeria’s broader goals of youth empowerment, industrial development, and wealth creation.
At the heart of the programme is the NCDF Opportunity Growth Fund, which offers equity investments of up to ₦50 million for selected ventures. The fund aims to unlock over $10 billion in long-term economic value by supporting innovative businesses capable of transforming Nigeria’s economy.
Describing the programme as a national platform for innovation, NCDF Executive Chairman Hareter Babatunde Oralusi said it is not just an accelerator but a launchpad for building unicorn companies that can compete globally.
Spanning eight weeks, the accelerator offers intensive training in business development, regulatory compliance, and investment readiness. Entrepreneurs will also attend the Fortune Entrepreneur Summit in Benin City, where they will pitch to investors, participate in masterclasses, and showcase their innovations at exhibitions.
Participants will gain access to venture capital and long-term scale-up support through the NCDF Opportunity Growth Fund. The participation fee is set at ₦50,000.
Eligible applicants must be Nigerian citizens aged 18 to 45, operating at the idea, MVP, or growth stage. The programme strongly encourages applications from women-led, youth-driven, and tech-enabled businesses with high potential for social and economic impact.
