A leading sustainability advocate has introduced a ₦3 million business grant to empower entrepreneurs building climate-tech and circular economy solutions across Nigeria. Launched through the Atunlo Green Earth Foundation, this initiative seeks to bolster early-stage businesses that often face challenges securing funding, technical advice, and market exposure necessary for growth.
The grant targets founders whose ideas can scale within Nigeria’s unique economic landscape—especially those focused on minimizing waste, improving resource efficiency, and promoting cleaner production methods. Many climate-focused MSMEs in the country possess innovative concepts but lack the capital to validate their business models, strengthen their operations, or meet regulatory requirements. This new injection of funding is designed to help bridge those gaps, allowing entrepreneurs to consolidate their efforts and prove the sustainability of their solutions.
According to the foundation, eligible applicants must run registered, active businesses and submit a comprehensive overview of their operations, a growth plan, and a budget that clearly details how the grant will deliver measurable results. This ensures that successful candidates are not just innovative, but also ready to drive real environmental and economic impact.
The grant reflects the founder’s longstanding commitment to nurturing small businesses that blend profitability with positive change. Over the years, he has championed programs offering young businesses access to mentorship, training, funding, and networks—resources that are often out of reach for early-stage entrepreneurs. This latest initiative builds on that legacy, with a specific focus on climate resilience and green innovation, which are increasingly important to Africa’s development.
The foundation also notes the growing role of climate-oriented MSMEs in job creation, renewable energy, sustainable waste management, recycling, and strengthening supply chains. Despite their potential, many of these ventures struggle to expand beyond their immediate communities due to structural barriers. By providing targeted support, the grant aims to help these businesses refine their models, upgrade their technical capabilities, and access wider markets.
Beyond supporting individual businesses, the initiative is expected to stimulate broader innovation in Nigeria’s environmental sector and encourage more private-sector involvement in climate-smart enterprises. The foundation believes that investing in entrepreneurs at this stage can have ripple effects across industries—from agriculture and manufacturing to energy and urban development—contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous future for the nation.
