Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has opened applications for the 2026 NSIA Prize for Innovation, offering a total of $275,000 in funding to support Nigerian startups building scalable solutions in manufacturing, climate, food security, and healthcare.
- Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has opened applications for the 2026 NSIA Prize for Innovation, offering a total of $275,000...
- The programme, themed “Building for Impact,” aims to identify high-potential startups addressing national challenges while driving job creation, economic growth,...
- Applications opened on Friday, June 26, 2026, with a submission deadline of July 8, 2026.
- Beyond the grants, successful startups may access up to $1.5 million in follow-on funding through the Pula Xcelerator and also...
Keep reading for the full breakdown on Business competition — everything you need to know is covered below.
The programme, themed “Building for Impact,” aims to identify high-potential startups addressing national challenges while driving job creation, economic growth, and sustainable development. Applications opened on Friday, June 26, 2026, with a submission deadline of July 8, 2026.
Focus Sectors, Funding Breakdown, and Growth Opportunities
The 2026 edition prioritises startups in Manufacturing, Climate and Food Security, and Healthcare, reflecting NSIA’s focus on strengthening productive capacity, improving healthcare delivery, and advancing climate-resilient innovation.
The $275,000 prize pool includes $220,000 from NSIA, $45,000 from Cascador, and $10,000 from Wema Bank. Beyond the grants, successful startups may access up to $1.5 million in follow-on funding through the Pula Xcelerator and also qualify for the Wema Bank Hackaholics Grand Finale, which offers a share of ₦100 million in equity-free grants.
Eligibility, Application Portal, and NSIA Statement
Applicants must include at least one Nigerian citizen among the founding team, and startups must have a minimum viable product and at least six months of operation.
Interested founders can apply via the official portal: https://nsia-ip.com/.
NSIA Managing Director Aminu Umar-Sadiq said:
“Across Nigeria, entrepreneurs are building solutions with the potential to transform industries, improve livelihoods and address some of our most pressing development challenges. Through the NSIA Prize for Innovation, we are creating opportunities for these innovators to access the funding, training, mentorship and strategic partnerships they need to scale their ideas into sustainable businesses,” he said.
Since inception, the programme has attracted over 20,000 applications across all six geopolitical zones, spanning fintech, agritech, healthtech, edtech, transport, and logistics.