SMEDAN Launches BRYNE Programme to Support Entrepreneurs
SMEDAN Launches BRYNE Programme to Support 100,000+ Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs Annually
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a new entrepreneurship initiative known as the Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) Project, aimed at expanding support for young Nigerians interested in starting or growing businesses.
The programme was unveiled on 14 August 2026 as part of activities marking International Youth Day 2026.
BRYNE is designed to address a major challenge faced by young entrepreneurs: accessing the right support at the right stage of business development. The initiative will connect young Nigerians to opportunities in enterprise training, incubation, mentorship, finance, market access, business formalisation, investment, and business development support.
Four Major Components of BRYNE
1. SMEDAN Incubation Programme
The incubation programme will support 600 young entrepreneurs annually, particularly in sectors such as fashion, woodwork, and agriculture. It will utilise SMEDAN’s Industrial Development Centres to provide enterprise development support.
2. Campus Enterprise Engagement Platform
SMEDAN plans to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to bring entrepreneurship support directly to tertiary institutions.
Participating students will have access to practical business workshops, advisory services, networking opportunities, and exhibitions for student-owned businesses. The programme targets up to 3,000 participants per participating campus.
3. BRYNE Digital Connect
The digital component will provide entrepreneurship education through online platforms while supporting innovation, youth-led businesses, and grassroots enterprises.
It will also help connect entrepreneurs with wider markets and facilitate the development of online business communities.
4. Weekly Startup Hackathon
The programme will feature a weekly startup hackathon targeting 5,000 young entrepreneurs.
A total of 52 winners will be selected, with each winner receiving ₦250,000 in seed funding to support their business.
Who Can Benefit?
BRYNE is intended to support young Nigerians at different stages of entrepreneurship. This includes people who:
- Have a business idea but need help turning it into a viable business.
- Already operate a business and need funding.
- Need mentorship or business development support.
- Require improved access to markets and investors.
- Need support with business formalisation.
- Want access to relevant business information and export opportunities.
Through SMEDAN and its partners, beneficiaries may also be connected to funding opportunities, investors, markets, mentorship, formalisation services, and export opportunities.
Important Note
The information provided describes the launch and structure of the BRYNE Project. It does not yet provide a specific application deadline or a general BRYNE application portal.
Therefore, applicants should be cautious of unofficial links or individuals requesting payment to access the programme. When SMEDAN opens specific BRYNE application windows, applicants should use official SMEDAN channels.
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