After investing $125,000 in 25 entrepreneurs through its inaugural Vanguard Fellowship, the Mary Ojulari Foundation has opened applications for Cohort 2, extending its push to strengthen entrepreneurship and inclusive growth across Nigeria.
The fellowship, one of the Foundation’s flagship empowerment programs, focuses on turning early-stage ideas into scalable ventures by combining mentorship, business development training, and catalytic funding. It also seeks to close Nigeria’s persistent funding and skills gap for small and medium enterprises, a segment that drives over 40 percent of the country’s GDP but faces limited access to structured support.
Applications for the 2025/2026 cycle opened on September 24 and closes on October 26, the Foundation said. Shortlisted applicants will be announced on October 30, followed by interviews on November 1–2.