Mary Ojulari Foundation Commits ₦50 Million in Grants to Eight Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurs

The Mary Ojulari Foundation has significantly expanded its commitment to advancing sustainable development and fueling youth-led enterprise in Nigeria by successfully awarding a total of ₦50 million in catalytic grants to eight high-potential young entrepreneurs. This pivotal funding announcement was made during the Foundation’s prestigious Vanguard Fellowship Ignite Bootcamp Awards and Networking Cocktail Night held in Lagos, an event that marked the successful conclusion of the second cohort of the Foundation’s intensive two-week entrepreneurial bootcamp. Following the rigorous training, each of the selected fellows is set to receive ₦6,250,000 to directly scale their ventures. The bootcamp’s curriculum was expertly crafted to sharpen their existing business models, enhance their market readiness, and instill robust practices essential for long-term operational sustainability. This entire initiative is a direct reflection of the Foundation’s foundational mission: to equip young Nigerians with the comprehensive tools, vital capital, and extensive networks required to build resilient businesses that actively drive job creation and generate substantial community impact. The bootcamp was delivered through a strategic partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and a broad network comprising seasoned industry leaders. Participants, totaling fifty entrepreneurs in this second cohort, were exposed to practical case studies, strategic mentorship, and deep-dive sector insights spanning critical areas like finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and media. The Foundation underscored that this model guarantees fellows receive ongoing support, including privileged access to markets and tailored business advisory opportunities, even well after the formal program concludes. The fifty participating entrepreneurs were selected from a competitive pool based on criteria that prioritized innovation, community relevance, and long-term sustainability, representing diverse sectors such as agro-processing, fashion, technology, and the creative industries. During the awards ceremony, the Foundation reiterated its core belief that unlocking this entrepreneurial potential remains absolutely central to achieving Nigeria’s overall economic transformation. They praised young founders for creating jobs and demonstrating remarkable resilience despite the challenging current business environment. Furthermore, a keynote address at the event strongly emphasized the imperative for Nigeria to strategically invest in skills development, improved access to capital, digital literacy, supportive policy frameworks, and robust mentorship communities to nurture small business growth as a long-term economic strategy. This new infusion of ₦50 million follows the Foundation’s inaugural 2025 edition, where they supported twenty-five entrepreneurs with a total of $125,000 in catalytic grants. The increasing scale of support demonstrates the Foundation’s enduring commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem and accelerating economic growth driven by its youth population.