Opinion: Why Youth Entrepreneurship Deserves More Than Grants

Every few months, another headline announces a new round of grants for young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta. The applause is well deserved — but grants alone rarely build lasting businesses.

What most young founders in the region tell me they actually need is different: consistent mentorship, help navigating regulatory bottlenecks, and access to markets beyond their immediate community.

A grant can pay for equipment. It rarely teaches someone how to price a product, manage cash flow through a slow season, or negotiate with a difficult supplier. Those are the skills that determine whether a business survives its first two years.

If we want the next generation of Niger Delta entrepreneurs to build something that outlasts a single funding cycle, the support ecosystem needs to grow up alongside the grants.