The Federal Government has onboarded 185 founders into the inaugural cohort of the iDICE Startup Bridge Founders Lab following a competitive selection process that attracted more than 7,000 applications nationwide.
The onboarding marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, a $617 million initiative launched in 2023 to drive innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and economic diversification.
The programme is co-financed by the African Development Bank, the Agence Française de Développement, and the Islamic Development Bank, while the Bank of Industry serves as the executing agency and one of the financiers.
According to organisers, the selection process involved multiple stages, narrowing over 7,000 applications to 500 shortlisted candidates before 185 founders were ultimately chosen based on innovation potential, market relevance, and execution capacity.
The iDICE Startup Bridge initiative is designed as a structured support platform for early-stage and growth-stage startups. It includes the Founders Lab for early innovators and the Growth Lab for startups with existing market traction.
Speaking on the programme, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also chairs the iDICE Steering Committee, said the initiative is aimed at unlocking the potential of young Nigerians and strengthening the country’s future economy.
“These founders represent the ambition, creativity, and resilience of a new generation of Nigerian innovators,” said the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi.
He added that the programme will help build scalable businesses capable of creating jobs, attracting investment, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
The selected founders represent all six geopolitical zones of the country, ensuring broader national inclusion beyond major startup hubs such as Lagos and Abuja. Women entrepreneurs make up 38 per cent of the cohort, surpassing the programme’s 30 per cent gender inclusion target.
Participants will undergo a 12-week intensive training programme focused on mentorship, business development, operational strengthening, and investment readiness. Top-performing startups may access grants of up to N10 million.
Beyond the cohort, the wider iDICE initiative is expected to establish 66 innovation hubs across Nigeria, train up to 300,000 young people in digital and creative skills, and support hundreds of startups through financing and investment-readiness programmes.
Organisers say the next phase will include the opening of applications for the Growth Lab track as implementation expands into infrastructure development and broader ecosystem support.
The programme aims to position Nigeria as a leading hub for digital innovation and creative enterprise across Africa.
