By Abubakar Yunusa
The Imo State Government has partnered with the United States Market Access Centre (USMAC) to roll out a nationwide mentoring programme aimed at supporting Nigerian startups.
According to the company,the initiative is designed to empower young entrepreneurs, scale up small businesses, and position Nigerian companies for global competition.
Speaking at the project’s pre-launch in Abuja, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, Tokoni Peter Igoin, said the scheme would help create jobs and strengthen the economy.
He explained that the government was committed to supporting startups from the micro level into fully established companies capable of competing internationally.
One of the key challenges for entrepreneurs, he noted, was funding. But he stressed that the administration had programmes through agencies such as NELFUND and SMEDAN to provide loans and support for young businesses.
USMAC’s Africa representative, Matt.Ifesieh, outlined the structure of the programme. It will begin with outreach events and a hackathon in October, followed by a boot camp to shortlist promising startups.
“We expect up to 2,000 applications, but only 100 startups will make the cut. From there, the best will move on to international exposure and training,” he said.
He added that the scheme would help attract foreign venture capital, increase Nigeria’s global visibility, and boost revenue generation through innovation.
The Co-founder of the Global Innovation Dojo, Donohue, said Nigeria had the talent to produce billion-dollar tech companies.
“What is missing is experienced mentors who have built and sold global firms. This project aims to bridge that gap,” he said.
To support the initiative, the Imo State Government has already established a digital hub that will serve as an accelerator for startups.
Authorities also pointed to stronger data protection frameworks under the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), assuring entrepreneurs that their intellectual property would be safeguarded.
According to Igoin, the programme also signals that Nigeria is becoming safer and more attractive to investors.
He said international partners were already on ground, a sign of growing confidence in the country’s digital economy.
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