Your Quick Guide to State-Level Business Support Across Nigeria.
Are you a Nigerian small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur? Across the country, several states are rolling out powerful SME funding initiatives in 2025 — from zero-interest loans to cash grants for women, youth, and local traders. This is your simplified guide to the best state-specific SME grants and loans you can tap into right now.
SME GRANTS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT IN NIGERIA (2025)
These are non-repayable financial supports designed to empower youth, women, and micro-enterprises:
Akwa Ibom – ARISE MSME Grants
₦5.1 billion fund including ₦2B for farmers, ₦2B for traders, ₦800M in equipment, and ₦500k each for 50 agribusiness winners. Apply via: [smegrants.akwaibomstate.gov.ng]
Adamawa – Fintiri Business Wallet
₦50,000 grants to 40,000 small traders and micro-entrepreneurs. Applications are manual through local wards under PAWECA.
Benue – Alia Cares SME Grants
₦150k–₦500k cash injections for small traders and agro-enterprises. Managed by the Ministry of Finance with World Bank support.
Bayelsa – Youth & Women SME Grants
₦200k grants to 840 micro-enterprises (ongoing). Focuses on women and youth-owned businesses.
Borno – MSME Grants
₦1 billion allocated in 2025 to 9,400 businesses (avg ₦300k–₦350k each). Also includes FG’s ₦50k PCGS grants to 25,000 micro-entrepreneurs.
Kaduna – “A Kori Talauci” Grants
₦619M given to over 8,600 micro-businesses (₦50k–₦200k). Includes free business development training under KADEDA.
Niger – Women Cooperative Development Grant
₦250 million released for women cooperatives in Kontagora. Funds used for equipment and capital.
Yobe – Youth & Women Empowerment Grants
₦100k each for 10,000 entrepreneurs across all 17 LGAs. Register via ward offices.
Ogun – Presidential Grant Scheme
₦50k each to 20,000 micro-traders via FG’s BOI-led PCGS program.
Kwara State – NG-CARES Grants & Kwapreneur 5.0
- NG-CARES Grants: ₦100k–₦200k for verified MSMEs.
- Kwapreneur: Seed grants (total ₦229M+ in 2024) for youth with innovative ideas. Apply via: www.kwaracaresformsme.com or kwasupport.com.ng
Oyo State – Oyo Scale Up Project (Training)
Though not a cash grant, Oyo’s initiative trains “nano businesses” on finance, business strategy, and marketing. Alumni from related programs like Kwapreneur have received funding of up to ₦1M+.
Apply via: Oyo State Trade & Industry Ministry (registration announced periodically).
SME LOANS & CREDIT SCHEMES IN NIGERIA (2025)
These are low-interest or zero-interest loans for startups, traders, women, and cooperatives:
Abia – BOI–Abia SME Loan Fund
₦5B pooled loan at single-digit interest for Abia-based SMEs. Apply via BOI or the Ministry of Commerce.
Ekiti – Access Bank Women’s Loan
₦1B soft loans for women-led businesses. Disbursed via Access Bank branches.
Lagos State – LSETF Loan Programs
Lagos leads with structured micro, SME, and local government-specific loan products via the LSETF.
- Micro Enterprise Loan: Up to ₦500,000 at 9% annual interest.
- Startup Loan: Up to ₦250,000 for vocational-trained new businesses.
- SME Loan: Up to ₦5 million for CAC-registered businesses.
- Local Loans (Ojo, Ibeju-Lekki, Onigbongbo): Ranges from ₦50k–₦200k with subsidized or 0% interest.
Apply at: LSETF portal
Enugu State – SME Loans via Fintech Partners
Managed by the Enugu SME Centre, Enugu offers diverse fintech-enabled loans:
- Micro Credit Loan: Up to ₦300k (0.9% monthly), post-training.
- Lidya Business Line: Up to ₦3.5M, 30-day credit cycles (~3.5% monthly).
- Trader Facility (Carbon): ₦50k–₦2M, 3-month loan at 5% monthly.
- Studentpreneur Loans: ₦150k, 9% per annum for student businesses.
- MSME Development Fund: Up to ₦5M (micro), ₦50M (SME) via banks.
Apply via: Enugu SME Centre portal or local financial institutions.
Delta State – MSME BOI Loans
Delta’s ₦1 billion revolving fund, in partnership with BOI, offers low-interest loans (9%) to businesses across all sectors.
Application: Through BOI branches in Delta.
Edo State – MSME Revolving Fund
With over ₦1B allocated, Edo’s SME loans focus on inclusion (60% for women). Loans average ₦418k per business.
Apply via: Edojobs portal or LAPO MFB partners.
Ebonyi State – EBSMEDA Financing
Ebonyi supports traders, artisans, and agri-businesses through local/international MFIs at single-digit interest rates. Apply via: Ebonyi SME Development Agency (EBSMEDA).
Jigawa – Jigawa–BOI Partnership Fund
₦6B SME loan pool (₦4B direct loan + ₦2B managed fund) at 9% interest. Apply through JETAP or BOI Dutse.
Kano – ₦25B SME Loan Program
₦17.5B earmarked for small businesses. Administered via the State Ministry of Commerce.
Katsina – KASEDA SME Loans
₦250M disbursed to agriculture, tech, and manufacturing SMEs (₦500k–₦5M per loan) without collateral.
Bayelsa – BOI Export Loan Fund
₦4B facility for export-oriented SMEs at 9% interest. Submit project proposal via BOI.
Osun – Cooperative Ward Loan Scheme
₦3.4B zero-interest revolving loans. Each ward supports 46 SMEs through registered trade cooperatives.
Ogun – FG’s MSME Loan Scheme
Part of FG’s ₦75B PIL fund. Loans up to ₦1M at 9% interest, repayable over 3 years.
BONUS TIP
If you’re a business in Nigeria, check your state’s Ministry of Commerce or SME agency – most programs are administered at that level. Some loans require CAC registration, a business plan, or cooperative membership.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR NIGERIAN ENTREPRENEURS
- Loans or grants often require documentation – BVN, CAC registration, bank statements, or training certificates.
- Local-specific programs are ongoing – Check your LGA’s business office or SME portal regularly.
- Training often precedes funding – Financial literacy is now required in places like Enugu.
- Don’t miss fintech-partnered schemes – e.g., Enugu’s Lidya or Carbon programs.
Download the full 2025 Nigerian SME Funding Guide — including federal, private, and international grants — now from the Yellowline Resource Page. For business loans, check out the guide to Debt based SME investing here
