The Nigerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF), in partnership with the National Board for Technology Incubation and the London School of Social Enterprise and Sustainable Economics, has announced the opening of applications for the 2025 edition of the Fortune Entrepreneur Accelerator, Summit & Venture Capital Programme.
The national initiative, disclosed in a statement by Tajudeen Kareem, Executive Director for the Public Sector at NCDF, aims to discover and empower 1,000 high-potential Nigerian startups in strategic sectors including agriculture, energy, fintech, healthcare, manufacturing, the creative industries, and climate innovation. The programme will culminate in a summit scheduled for September 2025 in Benin City, Edo State.
At the core of the initiative is the NCDF Opportunity Growth Fund, a dedicated venture capital vehicle that offers equity investment of up to N50 million for selected startups. The fund is structured to unlock over $10 billion in long-term value and contribute significantly to national goals of youth empowerment, wealth creation, and industrial advancement.
Speaking on the programme’s broader mission, Hareter Babatunde Oralusi, Executive Chairman of NCDF, described it as more than just a startup accelerator.
“The Fortune Entrepreneur Programme is more than a start-up support initiative, it is a national platform to build unicorn enterprises that will drive Nigeria’s innovation economy. With the right support and capital, Nigerian entrepreneurs can build companies that rival the best in the world,” he said.
The accelerator spans eight weeks and offers intensive support in business development, compliance training, and investment readiness, ensuring that participants are equipped to refine their operations, meet regulatory standards, and attract sustainable funding. Successful applicants will also participate in the Fortune Entrepreneur Summit in Benin City, where they will engage with investors, pitch live to audiences, attend masterclasses, and showcase their innovations at exhibitions.
Access to venture capital and post-programme scale-up support will be provided through the NCDF Opportunity Growth Fund. The participation fee is ₦50,000.
To qualify, applicants must be Nigerian entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 45, operating at the idea, MVP, or growth stage. The programme particularly encourages women-led, youth-driven, and tech-enabled businesses with strong social and economic impact potential to apply.
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