| SMEDAN ICSS — Inspire, Create, Start, Scale Programme & GROW Fund
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) + Jaiz Bank + GIZ (German Development Agency) |
| STATUS: OPEN — Portal Active (Check Portal for Current Cohort Schedule) |
| SECTOR: Entrepreneurship & Access to Finance |
| WHO CAN APPLY: Any Nigerian interested in starting or growing a business. Four modules: Inspire (complete beginners), Create (idea-stage), Start (ready to launch), Scale (existing business owners). Youth, women, and graduates are prioritised for GROW Fund financing. |
| WHAT YOU RECEIVE: Free four-module business training curriculum. ICSS graduates then become eligible for the GROW Fund — single-digit interest loans: START track ₦250,000–₦2,000,000; SCALE track ₦1,000,000–₦5,000,000. Mentorship and certification throughout. |
| GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE: National — All 36 States + FCT. Pilot active in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, Edo, Niger States. |
| BENEFIT / VALUE: Free training + single-digit interest loans ₦250,000–₦5,000,000 (GROW Fund) + mentorship + SMEDAN business certification |
| APPLY HERE: https://smedan.gov.ng/icss/icss-registration/ |
| HOW TO APPLY — STEP BY STEP:
1. Visit https://smedan.gov.ng/icss to read about the four modules (Inspire, Create, Start, Scale) and identify your stage. 2. Go to the registration portal at https://smedan.gov.ng/icss/icss-registration/ 3. Select your cohort and location from the available options on the form. 4. Complete your personal and business details and submit your registration. 5. Attend the training sessions in your selected module (digital and in-person formats available). 6. Upon completing training, register your business on the SMEDAN portal at https://portal.smedan.gov.ng 7. GROW Fund: after completing ICSS, submit a business plan and apply for financing through Jaiz Bank via the official ICSS channel. NOTE: Training under ICSS is free. The GROW Fund loan is only available after completing ICSS training — training comes first. Check the portal for the latest cohort schedule. |
