The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched the Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) Project to expand entrepreneurship support for young Nigerians seeking to start, grow or scale their businesses. The initiative was unveiled on August 14, 2026, as part of activities marking International Youth Day 2026. The BRYNE Project is designed to address one of the major challenges confronting young entrepreneurs: limited access to appropriate business support at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Through the initiative, young Nigerians will be connected to entrepreneurship training, incubation, mentorship, financing opportunities, market access, business formalisation, investment and other business development services. SMEDAN said the project will support young entrepreneurs across different sectors and stages of business development, while creating pathways for them to access resources and networks that can improve the sustainability and growth of their businesses. Four Components of the BRYNE Project The BRYNE Project consists of four major components designed to provide young entrepreneurs with practical and financial support. 1. SMEDAN Incubation Programme Under the incubation component, SMEDAN plans to support 600 young entrepreneurs annually, with particular attention to sectors including fashion, woodwork and agriculture. The programme will leverage SMEDAN’s Industrial Development Centres to provide participants with enterprise development support and other resources aimed at strengthening their businesses. The incubation initiative is expected to help young entrepreneurs develop their ideas, improve their business operations and build enterprises capable of achieving sustainable growth. 2. Campus Enterprise Engagement Platform SMEDAN also plans to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to take entrepreneurship support directly to tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The Campus Enterprise Engagement Platform will provide participating students with practical business workshops, business advisory services, networking opportunities and exhibitions where student-owned businesses can showcase their products and services. The initiative is expected to reach up to 3,000 participants per participating campus, giving students greater exposure to entrepreneurship and business development opportunities while still in school. 3. BRYNE Digital Connect The digital component of the project, known as BRYNE Digital Connect, will use online platforms to provide entrepreneurship education and connect young business owners to wider opportunities. The platform is expected to support innovation, youth-led businesses and grassroots enterprises while creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to connect with other business owners and participate in online business communities. It will also provide access to relevant business information and potentially help entrepreneurs reach wider markets. 4. Weekly Startup Hackathon Another major component of the BRYNE Project is a weekly startup hackathon designed to engage 5,000 young entrepreneurs. A total of 52 winners are expected to emerge from the hackathon, with each winner receiving ₦250,000 in seed funding to support their business. The funding is expected to provide selected entrepreneurs with additional capital to develop their ideas, improve existing operations or scale their businesses. Who Can Benefit From BRYNE? The initiative is designed to support young Nigerians at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Potential beneficiaries include young people who have business ideas but need support to turn them into viable enterprises, existing business owners seeking funding or additional business development assistance, and entrepreneurs looking for mentorship and access to markets and investors. The project will also cater to young Nigerians who need assistance with business formalisation, access to business information and opportunities to explore local and international markets. Through SMEDAN and its partners, participants may gain access to mentorship, investors, funding opportunities, markets, formalisation services and export-related opportunities. Application Portal Yet to Be Announced Despite the launch of the BRYNE Project, SMEDAN has not yet announced a general application deadline or dedicated application portal for the programme. Young Nigerians interested in participating are therefore advised to exercise caution and avoid unofficial websites, individuals or platforms requesting payment in exchange for access to BRYNE opportunities. Applicants should rely on official SMEDAN communication channels for announcements concerning application windows, eligibility requirements and registration procedures. The launch of BRYNE comes at a time when young Nigerians continue to seek greater access to finance, skills, markets and business development support, particularly as entrepreneurs navigate rising operating costs and a challenging business environment. With its focus on incubation, campus entrepreneurship, digital engagement and seed funding, the initiative is expected to create additional opportunities for young Nigerians to build and strengthen businesses across the country.The post SMEDAN Launches BRYNE Project to Support Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs first appeared on Opportunities Hub.