The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced its Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP), an initiative aimed at supporting young Nigerian innovators and startups developing solutions for the country’s maritime and blue economy.
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The programme is designed to take participants through a structured journey from developing ideas to building enterprises. It includes a National Innovation Hackathon, a 12-week Accelerator Programme and a National Demo Day.
According to the announcement, eligible young Nigerians aged 18 to 28 with innovative ideas and solutions can apply. However, detailed programme information also indicates that applicants are expected to have startups with at least two team members. Interested individuals should review the official eligibility requirements before submitting applications.
The programme will involve several stages, beginning with applications and competition, followed by acceleration, a demo day and opportunities to scale solutions. The initiative is intended to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and technology in the blue economy, including solutions that can contribute to the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the programme reflects the agency’s commitment to positioning young Nigerians at the forefront of innovation and enterprise.
“The future of Nigeria’s blue economy will be built on ideas, innovation, enterprise and collaboration,” he said.
The published schedule lists October 5, 2026, as the application opening date and November 13 as the closing date. Evaluation and due diligence are scheduled for November 16 to December 2, while the National Innovation Hackathon is planned for December 8 to 10.
The 12-week accelerator is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2027, followed by a National Demo Day in the second quarter.
The programme also offers opportunities for mentorship, investor access and potential funding. However, NIMASA has not announced a fixed grant amount or guaranteed cash payment for participating startups. The sponsorship contribution tiers published on the programme portal apply to partners, not applicants.
A promotional notice displayed on the portal states that applications are now open. This differs from the October 5 opening date in the earlier announcement. Applicants should check the official portal for the current application status.
Requirements
Applicants should be Nigerian innovators aged 18 to 28, with ideas or startup solutions relevant to the maritime and blue economy. Detailed portal information indicates that a startup should have at least two team members. Applicants should check the official criteria for further conditions.
How to apply
Interested applicants should visit the official NIMASA-BEAP portal, review the eligibility conditions and application instructions, and complete the online application when available.
Application portal: https://nbeap.nimasa.gov.ng/
The stated application deadline is November 13, 2026.
