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Applications are now open for the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026, a growth-focused programme designed to support young entrepreneurs with established businesses who are ready to expand beyond their domestic markets and explore opportunities across Africa.
The Export Accelerator is designed to help youth-led enterprises strengthen their export readiness, improve competitiveness and overcome some of the challenges involved in expanding into new African markets.
The 2026 programme is open to young entrepreneurs and youth-led businesses in Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, The Gambia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The initiative is implemented by YouthConnekt Africa in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union (AU) and aligns with efforts to increase youth participation in intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
What the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator Offers
Selected entrepreneurs will receive support designed to help them prepare their businesses for regional expansion and cross-border trade.
The programme will focus on helping participating businesses:
- Strengthen their export capacity and readiness.
- Prepare to enter new African markets.
- Improve their competitiveness.
- Navigate customs and regulatory requirements.
- Overcome non-tariff barriers to trade.
- Improve access to finance and investment opportunities.
- Build stronger regional business networks.
- Expand their operations across African markets.
The programme will also provide tailored enterprise support based on the specific needs, growth potential and export readiness of participating businesses.
Who Can Apply?
The YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2026 is designed for young entrepreneurs who:
- Are under 35 years old.
- Are from Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, The Gambia, Zambia or Zimbabwe.
- Own or operate an already established business.
- Have a business that is ready to explore expansion beyond the domestic market.
- Are interested in building a competitive enterprise capable of participating in intra-African trade.
The programme is intended for entrepreneurs who are ready to grow their businesses beyond their home markets. It is not designed for applicants who are only seeking grants.
How to Apply
Interested young entrepreneurs should complete the official application and diagnostic form.
Applicants are encouraged to provide accurate information about their businesses, current operations, growth plans and export ambitions.
Eligible entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply and take advantage of the opportunity to prepare their businesses for expansion into new African markets.
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Business
FG Unveils New Framework to Measure Economic Performance
The Federal Government will adopt a new framework for assessing Nigeria’s economic performance, shifting its focus from headline economic growth figures to measurable improvements in citizens’ living standards and shared prosperity.
Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed the plan at the BusinessDay CEO Forum 2026, where he outlined a new approach that will evaluate economic success based on reductions in multidimensional poverty, increases in real income per capita and declining levels of inequality.
According to Oyedele, the government will provide regular public updates on these indicators to improve transparency and strengthen accountability.
He said the new framework is designed to ensure that economic growth translates into tangible benefits for Nigerians rather than being measured solely through traditional macroeconomic indicators.
“We will measure shared prosperity based on the reduction in the number of people living in multidimensional poverty, the increase in real income per capita, and the reduction in inequality,” he said.
“We think the combined impact of those three measures will tell us whether our growth is inclusive and whether our prosperity is shared.”
Oyedele added that making economic data more accessible would allow citizens to better evaluate the impact of government policies and reinforce accountability in economic management.
Addressing business leaders, investors and development partners at the forum, the minister stressed that attracting global investment requires stable policies, strong institutions and consistent implementation rather than patriotic appeals.
“Every single morning, trillions of US dollars flow through international financial markets. That capital has no passport. It has no tribe and no political affiliation. It does not respond to emotional appeals or patriotic rhetoric. It responds to stable policy, strong institutions, and diligent execution of policies,” he said.
To position Nigeria as a preferred investment destination, Oyedele said the government is committed to strengthening regulatory certainty, institutional credibility and adherence to the rule of law.
He also highlighted the importance of improved coordination across government institutions to eliminate policy inconsistencies and administrative bottlenecks that discourage investment.
According to the minister, fiscal and monetary authorities are working closely on reforms aimed at strengthening expenditure controls, increasing non-oil revenue, promoting sustainable debt management and maintaining exchange rate and price stability.
He noted that stronger alignment between fiscal and monetary policies is essential for sustaining investor confidence and supporting long-term economic planning.
“Our aim is to avoid policy surprises, no sudden reversals, and no administrative friction. We are aligned, coordinated, and committed to strategic clarity,” Oyedele said.
He added that the government’s coordination efforts extend beyond federal institutions to include state governments, private-sector stakeholders and international development partners.
Business
FG Launches Guaranteed Price Scheme for 2 Million Farmers
The Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of 10 million bags of fertiliser and launched a Guaranteed Price Model that will support two million smallholder farmers across Nigeria, in a move aimed at improving productivity, reducing market risks and strengthening food security.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced the initiative during the flag-off ceremony in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Kyari explained that participating farmers will be linked to Farmer Aggregation Companies that will provide production support, monitor farming activities and connect farmers to reliable markets.
According to him, the aggregators will supply certified seeds, fertiliser and extension services throughout the farming cycle, from land preparation to harvest.
He added that after harvest, the companies will purchase farmers’ produce at a government-approved Guaranteed Minimum Price, ensuring they recover the cost of production and are protected from exploitative market pricing.
The minister said one-third of the beneficiaries under the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund (RH-SVCF) are women.
He described the programme as a major shift from previous interventions, noting that its strength lies not only in the volume of agricultural inputs distributed but also in its structured support system.
“For generations, farmers carried every risk alone. They borrowed to plant. They prayed for rain. And at harvest, they met buyers who knew they were desperate. What changes today?” Kyari said.
Addressing the farmers, he added, “From now on, there is an institution beside you when you plant, and an institution beside you when you sell.”
Kyari said the timing of the distribution was deliberate, with inputs arriving during the rainy season to enable farmers to plant without delays.
He also explained that Zaria was chosen for the launch because of its long-standing reputation as one of Nigeria’s major agricultural hubs and home to leading agricultural research institutions.
“Today’s flag-off is important because research meets the farmer, inputs meet the rains, and the harvest meets a market,” he said.
The minister commended the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, for ensuring that the inputs were delivered promptly as the farming season commenced.
Kyari revealed that the aggregation programme has expanded from serving about 3,000 farmers to over 400,000 farmers, with a target of reaching one million farmers by 2030.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting farmers throughout the production cycle and ensuring the success of the Guaranteed Price Model.
“A nation that cannot feed itself holds its independence on loan. Putting the farmer first is not sentiment; it is strategy,” he said, urging farmers to maximise the opportunity and hold the government accountable at harvest.
Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, High Chief Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, said the programme is designed to reach two million smallholder farmers nationwide, distribute more than 10 million bags of fertiliser and provide quality agricultural inputs at the right time to boost productivity.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, said the bank is building an integrated agricultural ecosystem that gives farmers access to quality inputs, affordable financing, mechanisation, aggregation services, structured markets and value chain partnerships.
He noted that agricultural transformation requires collaboration across the entire value chain, from production and financing to processing and market access.
According to Sotinrin, nearly 300,000 farmers have already been enrolled in the programme, while more than 1.1 million bags of fertiliser and over 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds are being distributed through 20 Farmer Aggregation Companies operating across 20 states.
He added that 15 accredited input suppliers have also been mobilised, creating jobs, supporting local businesses and stimulating economic activity in rural communities.
The launch was attended by the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, traditional rulers, development partners and farmers from across the region.
Business
Edo Partners US Investors to Establish Electric Tricycle Manufacturing Plant
The Edo State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with United States-based investors to establish an electric mobility manufacturing and assembly plant for electric tricycles, a move aimed at accelerating industrialization, creating jobs and promoting clean transportation.
The project is being implemented through a collaboration involving US-based MOSERI Holding Limited, JBV Manufacturing and a tricycle manufacturing company.
The State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Paul Usenbo, disclosed the development in an interview, stating that the initiative will establish an e-mobility company in Edo State to manufacture and assemble electric tricycles for the Nigerian market.
According to him, the project will position Edo as a hub for clean energy technology, innovation and electric vehicle manufacturing.
Usenbo said the initiative aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s economic agenda of attracting strategic investments, expanding industrial capacity and creating sustainable employment through renewable energy and technology-driven manufacturing.
He noted that local production of electric tricycles would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, strengthen domestic manufacturing and support the growth of the country’s electric vehicle value chain.
The commissioner added that manufacturing the vehicles locally would also lower production and logistics costs, making electric tricycles more affordable while creating employment opportunities across assembly, maintenance, technical support, spare parts distribution and after-sales services.
“The advantage of this initiative is that electric tricycles will become more affordable for our people. More importantly, Edo residents will benefit from employment in assembly, maintenance, after-sales services and warranty support, creating a sustainable value chain for the state’s economy,” Usenbo said.
He explained that the investment forms part of broader reforms by the Ministry of Power to attract private sector participation in the energy sector, diversify Edo’s economy and encourage environmentally sustainable transportation.
Usenbo also revealed that the state government is engaging international investors across the power and renewable energy value chain, describing the electric mobility project as one of several strategic initiatives designed to position Edo as a preferred destination for technology-driven manufacturing and clean energy investments.
He expressed confidence that the project would strengthen local industrial capacity, facilitate technology transfer, develop workforce skills, stimulate economic growth and reinforce Edo State’s position as a leading destination for electric mobility and renewable energy investments.
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