KEY POINTS

• The iDICE programme onboarded 185 founders into the first cohort of its Startup Bridge initiative.
• More than 7,000 applied, with 500 shortlisted before the final 185 selections.
• Women make up 38 percent of the cohort, beating the programme’s 30 percent target.

The Federal Government’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises programme has onboarded 185 founders into the first cohort of its Startup Bridge initiative. The selection marks one of the first major milestones in the rollout of iDICE, which the administration launched in 2023 to drive innovation, youth enterprise and economic diversification.

A competitive selection process

Startup Bridge serves as one of the programme’s direct founder-support pathways, and it runs two tracks: the Founders Lab for early-stage innovators and the Growth Lab for post-MVP startups with traction. After the portal opened in March 2026, more than 7,000 completed applications poured in, which underscored both the scale of entrepreneurial ambition and the demand for structured support.

However, a painstaking, multi-stage review narrowed the field sharply. According to the programme, assessors shortlisted 500 applicants and ultimately picked 185 founders based on innovation potential, market relevance and execution capacity. Moreover, the organizers drew the cohort from all six geopolitical zones, deliberately extending participation beyond established hubs such as Lagos and Abuja. Notably, women entrepreneurs account for 38 percent of the cohort, surpassing the programme’s 30 percent gender inclusion target.

Backing and next steps

The $617 million programme draws co-financing from the African Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement and the Islamic Development Bank, while the Bank of Industry serves as both executing agency and financier. Furthermore, iDICE aims to establish 66 innovation hubs nationwide, train up to 300,000 young Nigerians in digital and creative skills and support hundreds of startups with financing and investment readiness.

Speaking on the initiative, the Steering Committee Chairman and Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said the government is investing in sectors that will define Nigeria’s future economy. “Programmes like iDICE are creating pathways for young innovators to build globally competitive businesses from Nigeria,” he said. Similarly, Bank of Industry Managing Director Olasupo Olusi described the founders as evidence of a new generation’s ambition and resilience.

According to National Co-ordinator Ife Adebayo, the selected founders will now undergo a 12-week intensive program covering mentorship, operational strengthening, business development and investment preparedness. In addition, top performers will qualify for grants of up to N10 million, while applications for the Growth Lab track open in the coming weeks. Ultimately, the programme plans further interventions across infrastructure, creative financing and digital skills to position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s digital and creative economy.