Lagos, Nigeria – A transformative Venture Grants Bootcamp hosted by Bankable Wisdom, in partnership with Western Union Foundation and American Corner Lekki, has empowered 55 early-stage founders with critical funding access skills—with three participants already securing $5,000 Tony Elumelu grants within weeks.
Bootcamp Highlights
Focus: Grant writing, compliance, and business planning for impact-driven ventures
Priority Cohort: 50%+ founders serving refugees and IDPs
Expert Trainers:
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Precious Azuonwu (Bankable Wisdom/Western Union Fellow)
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Fidelis Amaonyeze (Tony Elumelu Foundation alumnus)
Proven Impact
3 immediate grant wins ($15,000 total)
220+ applications for 55 slots (showing high demand)
Scaling plans: More bootcamps targeting grassroots entrepreneurs
Founder’s Vision:
“This isn’t charity—it’s about democratizing funding access. Our alumni are proving that knowledge unlocks capital.”
— Precious Azuonwu, Bankable Wisdom
Why This Matters
Nigeria has 40M+ SMEs, but <5% access formal funding (SMEDAN)
Social enterprises addressing displacement crises often lack financial literacy
Model works: 100% of trained founders now actively pursuing grants
Next Steps:
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Expansion to Abuja & Port Harcourt in Q3 2025
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Digital toolkit for remote applicants
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Corporate partnerships to increase grant pools
