The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), has opened applications for the fourth edition of its flagship entrepreneurship programme, “the NSIA Prize for Innovation (NPI 4.0)”, aimed at supporting high-potential Nigerian startups with funding, mentorship and business development opportunities.
The initiative, themed “Building for Impact”, is designed to identify and nurture innovative startups developing scalable solutions to critical national challenges while promoting economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development.
A statement issued in Abuja by the NSIA’s spokesperson, Joyce Onyegbula, said the programme has grown into one of Nigeria’s foremost innovation platforms, attracting over 20,000 applications across its first three editions from startups operating in sectors such as fintech, agritech, health technology, education, transportation and logistics.
According to her, the 2026 edition will focus on startups in Manufacturing, Climate and Food Security and Healthcare, reflecting the Authority’s commitment to strengthening productive capacity, improving healthcare delivery, enhancing food systems, and promoting climate-resilient solutions.
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The programme features a combined prize pool of 275,000 US dollars, comprising 220,000 dollars from NSIA, 45,000 dollars from Cascador, and 10,000 dollars from Wema Bank.
Beyond the cash prizes, selected startups will benefit from entrepreneurial training, mentorship, strategic partnerships, investor exposure, and access to growth opportunities.
A key highlight of this year’s edition is the opportunity for winners to secure up to 1.5 million US dollars in funding through the Pula Xcelerator, while also qualifying to participate in the grand finale of the Wema Bank Hackaholics competition, where they can compete for a share of 100 million naira in equity-free grants.
Successful participants will also undergo a fully funded enterprise development programme at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Lagos, where they will receive practical training in business strategy, leadership, governance, financial management, market expansion, and investor readiness.
Speaking on the initiative, NSIA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, said the programme reflects the Authority’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs whose innovations have the potential to transform industries, improve livelihoods, and address Nigeria’s development challenges.
He noted that the enhancements introduced in NPI 4.0 would provide founders with the funding, training, mentorship, and strategic partnerships needed to scale their businesses and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic development.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Cascador, Trish Thomas, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting innovative, technology-driven ventures capable of delivering measurable social impact.
She said Cascador would provide 45,000 dollars in non-dilutive funding through the Cascador Prize for Impact, rewarding outstanding entrepreneurs with solutions capable of transforming communities.
Since its inception, the NSIA Prize for Innovation has supported numerous startups through funding, technical assistance, mentorship, and access to strategic networks, enabling them to strengthen their business models and expand their operations.
Applications are now open to eligible Nigerian founders and startups operating within the programme’s priority sectors.
NSIA encouraged innovative entrepreneurs across the country to apply and take advantage of the initiative to accelerate their growth and contribute to building a more resilient and prosperous Nigerian economy.
