7 Business Grants & Opportunities Nigerian Entrepreneurs Should Apply for Before the Month Ends
As July 2025 approaches its end, there’s still time for Nigerian entrepreneurs to seize life-changing opportunities designed to empower, fund, and grow small businesses. From capacity-building programmes to funding support, here are 7 powerful business initiatives currently open for application — all tailored to MSMEs, startups, and founders who are ready to scale.
1. RevUp Women Enterprise Development Programme 2025
- Deadline: August 8, 2025
- Support Offered: $24,000 in funding and enterprise training
- Eligibility: Women-led startups and SMEs in Nigeria
- Focus Areas: Agribusiness and E-commerce
This programme aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage, women-owned businesses through capacity development, mentorship, and access to a continent-wide innovation ecosystem. It’s an initiative of AfriLabs under the RevUp Women Nigeria initiative.
🔗 Application Link Available on the Official Website
2. UpSkill Universe – HP & Google Business Skills Programme
- Deadline: July 30, 2025
- Support Offered: Free access to 30+ business training modules
- Target Audience: African small businesses
- Key Features: Multilingual access, mobile/offline flexibility
This is a digital learning initiative combining Google Hustle Academy and HP LIFE’s course library. It provides practical, business-relevant training to entrepreneurs, covering topics such as business planning, marketing, finance, and more.
🔗 Apply through the official programme portal
3. Sterling Bank Non-Oil Export Academy
- Deadline: Rolling (Apply ASAP)
- Support Offered: Training and expert advisory
- Focus: Businesses in Nigeria’s non-oil export sector
Sterling Bank offers this programme to equip aspiring exporters with tools and knowledge to grow Nigeria’s non-oil export capacity. Participants receive mentorship, policy insights, and real-world guidance to succeed in export markets.
🔗 Register via the official Sterling Academy page
4. DBN Entrepreneurship Training Programme – 7th Cycle
- Deadline: Open
- Support Offered: Entrepreneurial skills training
- Organizer: Development Bank of Nigeria
- Scope: Digital & in-person training sessions across Nigeria
With over 4,000 MSMEs trained so far, this annual programme enhances business acumen and financial literacy for entrepreneurs using DBN’s Learning Management System and partner networks.
🔗 Apply directly through the DBN training portal
5. BATNF Farmers for the Future Grant (F4F) – 2025 Edition
- Grant Size: ₦10 million (equity-free)
- Target Audience: Young agro-entrepreneurs in Nigeria
This agriculture-focused grant supports youth with scalable agribusiness ideas. Apart from financial support, beneficiaries gain access to business advisory and operational assistance to scale sustainably.
🔗 Visit BATNF’s official grant platform for application details
6. Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) Grant
- Deadline: August 15, 2025
- Grant Size: Up to €100,000
- Organizer: Government of Ireland
- Focus: Private-sector projects supporting sustainable food systems in Africa
This initiative provides matched grant funding for joint partnerships between African SMEs and Irish companies working to strengthen agricultural value chains.
🔗 Apply through the AADP application portal
7. SMEDAN ₦50,000 Conditional Grant Scheme for Micro Enterprises
- Status: Now Open
- Target Group: Nigerian micro-business owners
- Organizing Body: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
This financial support is part of SMEDAN’s strategic framework to empower micro enterprises and help them become formalized. Grant recipients must fulfill simple documentation and identification requirements.
🔗 apply through available on SMEDAN’s official platform
⚠️ Final Note to Entrepreneurs
Don’t miss out on these rare opportunities. Whether you’re seeking funding, training, or growth support, these programmes could significantly boost your business this year. Ensure you meet the deadlines, follow the application instructions, and prepare all required documents.
