SMEDAN Launches BRYNE Project for Young Entrepreneurs

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has initiated the Building Resilient Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs (BRYNE) Project, aimed at empowering over 100,000 young entrepreneurs each year. Launched on International Youth Day 2026, the program offers enterprise training, incubation, mentorship, financing opportunities, market connections, and business development support.

SMEDAN's Director General/CEO, Mr. Charles Odii, stated that BRYNE addresses the challenges young Nigerians face in starting and growing businesses.

The initiative includes the SMEDAN Incubation Programme (SIP), which will support 600 entrepreneurs annually in sectors like fashion, woodwork, and agriculture. Additionally, the Campus Enterprise Engagement Platform, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, will provide entrepreneurship support to tertiary institutions, targeting 3,000 student entrepreneurs per campus.

A weekly startup hackathon will also be held, offering business education and seed funding of ₦250,000 to selected winners. The program is designed to assist entrepreneurs at various stages of development, providing necessary resources for business formalization, investor linkages, and market access.