About the program
CIATECH Africa is a social enterprise based in Borno State, Nigeria. CIATECH Africa operates a physical innovation hub that provides inclusive support to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, and host community members. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities by offering a collaborative development space for innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs to thrive.
Through our hub, we foster sustainable growth and development by delivering capacity-building programs, facilitating access to digital tools and resources, and creating opportunities for economic empowerment, particularly for youth and women in conflict-affected areas.
What are the requirements to join as an entrepreneur?
To be eligible for the IGNITE Arewa Incubation Program, applicants must:
-Be residents of Nigeria, with priority given to individuals living in Borno State, especially Maiduguri and surrounding LGAs.
-Be youth (aged 18–35) or women from conflict-affected, displaced, or marginalized communities.
-Have a business idea or early-stage venture (pre-revenue or early traction), regardless of sector.
-Demonstrate a clear commitment to social impact, community development, or local problem-solving.
-Be able to participate actively in all program activities for the full duration
-Have basic digital literacy and access to a mobile phone.
-Be open to receiving mentorship and willing to engage in collaborative learning environments.
Sign up
Join as a mentor and help entrepreneurs in Africa achieve success!
We are looking for mentors who are committed to joining our incubation program. If you have a passion for entrepreneurship, have at least 5 years of professional experience and are committed to reviewing and monitoring your entrepreneur’s work before mentoring meetings, we want you to join us! We envision a fair, efficient and meritocratic society where innovation belongs to everyone. Sign up today and help Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs succeed!
What requirements must you have to mentor?
We are seeking experienced mentors who are committed to empowering women and youth in underserved and conflict-affected communities. Ideal mentors should have a strong background in entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, business development, social enterprise, or leadership. We especially welcome individuals with experience in startup incubation, access to finance, digital transformation, product development, gender inclusion, and market access strategies.
Mentors should be skilled in guiding early-stage entrepreneurs, offering practical insights, constructive feedback, and access to relevant networks. A deep understanding of the African context, especially in fragile or post-crisis settings like Northeast Nigeria, is highly valued.
Above all, we are looking for mentors who are empathetic, culturally sensitive, and willing to commit their time to support young innovators in building sustainable, impactful ventures.
Program Timeline
Start the hybrid incubation experience with mentoring sessions, working tools and structured development. You will have 5 months to complete the incubation cycle and develop your validated business plan.
- You will work weekly with your personal mentor in one-on-one sessions to go through the 8 business modules.
You will have the incubation team on hand at all times to answer any questions you may have. - You will finish the programme developing a business plan and executive summary ready to present to potential investors.
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