NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme 2026: Applications Open for Young Nigerian Innovators

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has opened applications for its Blue Economy Accelerator Programme and National Innovation Hackathon. The initiative is designed to help young innovators develop practical solutions for Nigeria's maritime and blue economy, connecting promising ideas with opportunities for mentorship, business development and industry engagement.

The programme focuses on innovations that can strengthen the maritime sector, improve marine resource management and support new businesses across the blue economy.

Who Can Apply?

The programme's official announcement identifies young innovators aged 18 to 28 as the target applicants.

It is relevant to people developing solutions in areas such as:

1. Maritime technology and logistics.
2. Port operations and digitalisation.
3. Maritime safety and security.
4. Green shipping and vessel decarbonisation.
5. Marine waste management.
6. Aquaculture and sustainable fisheries.
7. Coastal protection and marine conservation.
8. Marine tourism and biotechnology.

Applicants should be able to explain the problem their idea addresses, how their proposed solution works and the potential benefit to Nigeria's maritime or marine economy.

Programme Stages and Timeline

The programme is structured around several stages:

Applications open: 5 October 2026. Application deadline: 13 November 2026. Evaluation and due diligence: 16 November–2 December 2026. National Innovation Hackathon: 8–10 December 2026. Accelerator programme: First quarter of 2027. National Demo Day: Second quarter of 2027.

Successful participants will progress through the relevant stages of the programme. The 12-week accelerator is intended to help selected innovators strengthen their solutions and prepare their ventures for further development. At Demo Day, participating ventures will have an opportunity to showcase their work to investors, industry stakeholders and potential partners.

The programme is not simply a general-purpose cash grant: its main focus is innovation development, acceleration and access to relevant industry networks.

How to Apply

Applications are handled through the NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme portal.

Official application portal:

https://nbeap.nimasa.gov.ng/programme

Application deadline: 13 November 2026

Important information:

The opportunity is particularly relevant to young Nigerians whose projects address real challenges in maritime transport, ports, fisheries, coastal communities or marine technology.