In July 2025, the Nigerian government gave each Super Falcons player a $100,000 cash reward and a three-bedroom house. Weeks later, the same honour was extended to Nigeria's women's basketball team, D'Tigress. These were proud moments. But they also left many Nigerians wondering: how can we celebrate wins with billions of naira in unplanned rewards while still lacking a national structure to support young people building real solutions?
Around the same time, President Tinubu encouraged Nigerians abroad to return home and contribute to nation-building. The appeal resonates with many in the diaspora. But if young entrepreneurs cannot access funding, support, or policy protection, what exactly are they returning to?
This is the contradiction. We reward excellence in sports on impulse, yet ignore excellence in innovation and enterprise.
Nigeria is not poor. It is poorly structured.
Every day, thousands of young Nigerians build products that could change lives across fintech, agritech, digital health, and clean energy. Without connections or access to suitable capital, many of these ideas stall, disappear, or leave the country.
The problem is not simply a lack of money. It is a lack of structure, intention, and vision.
There is a global model that works.
In 2010, Chile launched Start-Up Chile, a government-backed, equity-free accelerator that offered early-stage founders capital without taking ownership. Selection centred on the idea, commitment, and a clear process.
Over time, the programme funded thousands of startups, helped alumni raise substantial follow-on capital, and positioned Chile as an international innovation hub. The model has influenced programmes around the world.
This is not theory. Nigeria can adapt the principle to its own realities.
What Start-Up Naija could look like
- N20 million to N40 million per selected startup, disbursed in stages against progress.
- Larger follow-on grants for high-performing teams.
- A transparent, merit-based selection process.
- Public dashboards showing who received support and how they are performing.
- A funding pool combining government, donor, private-sector, and diaspora capital.
States such as Lagos, Ekiti, Kaduna, or Enugu could launch a pilot without waiting for a national programme.
Why this matters
Talent retention
When builders know credible support exists, more will stay. Some members of the diaspora may also return.
Job creation
One well-supported startup can create a meaningful number of jobs. A portfolio of them can create an ecosystem.
National confidence
A well-designed programme can change how founders see their prospects and how the world sees Nigeria's capacity to build.
A real opportunity
If we are serious about bringing people back, we must build something worth returning to. Stable structures matter more than occasional speeches or one-off rewards.
Let us back builders with the same seriousness we bring to our champions.